A non-profit organization with religious ties, established by an American Christian musician whose concert was canceled in Moncton last year, is taking legal action against the city. The City of Moncton revoked permits for a performance by Sean Feucht, planned to be held in a public park along the riverfront in July. Burn 24/7 Canada, the non-profit founded by Feucht, filed a notice of action in Moncton court on August 4, alleging that the city’s halt on the “musical worship show” violated the organization’s freedom of expression rights. The organization claims that the cancellation impeded on rights outlined in section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Feucht, known as a Christian missionary and singer, has been known for his outspoken views against the 2SLGBTQ+ community, abortion rights, and critical race theory. His organization conducts events in both Canada and the United States. Last year, Feucht toured various Canadian cities as a “worship leader” under his “Let Us Worship” tour. The objective of the tour, as described in the legal documents, was to bring Christian worship and the message of the Christian Gospel to cities across Canada.
The City of Moncton revoked the permits two days before the scheduled show, citing non-compliance with the city’s Code of Conduct in City Facilities and concerns regarding safety and security, particularly due to planned protests at the event. Feucht’s organization insists that safety concerns were not a valid reason for the cancellation and attributed it to the perception of Feucht’s conservative Christian values and support for the former U.S. President.
The organization is pursuing $50,000 in damages, claiming that the cancellation resulted in additional costs such as liability insurance, printing expenses, portable toilets, and fuel to relocate the event to Bar None Camp in Taxis River. Despite complying with the city’s requirements and providing necessary information, the organization asserts that the sudden cancellation led to a significant decrease in attendance and donations.
Efforts to resolve the matter amicably with the city have been unsuccessful so far, with the city choosing not to comment as the case is in legal proceedings. Feucht’s organization seeks acknowledgment of the infringement of its rights to prevent similar actions by governments in the future. The claims made by Burn 24/7 Canada have yet to be reviewed by the courts.