On Friday, Sean Feucht, a contemporary Christian worship music artist known for his support of conservative political causes and the MAGA movement, led a worship service at the Spanish-speaking Église MR church in Montreal as part of his Revive in 25 tour. While a seemingly innocuous event, the service has drawn attention to the limits of religious freedom in Canada.
Feucht's arrival at the church was met with protesters, one of whom threw two smoke bombs at Feucht upon entering the church, where "despite a police presence, the suspect was not detained," reports Rebel News' Alexandra Lavoie. The Gazette reported that the scene inside the church was more peaceful: "A few dozen people sang and prayed while a row of police officers kept watch outside."
After the service was over, the city of Montreal issued a $2,500 fine to the church for organizing what they called "a concert" without a proper permit. City spokesperson Catherine Cadotte said the fine was issued after the city's borough inspectors had already warned the church, reports The Gazette. The Democracy Fund, a Canadian charity dedicated to constitutional rights, has agreed to provide legal defense to the church.