A religious non-profit organization established by an American Christian musician is taking legal action against the City of Moncton for canceling a concert last year. Burn 24/7 Canada, founded by Sean Feucht, filed a notice of action in Moncton court on Aug. 4, alleging that the city’s cancellation of the “musical worship show” violated the organization’s freedom of expression rights. The non-profit claims that the city’s actions infringed on fundamental civil liberties essential to Canadian democracy and caused significant harm.
The lawsuit contends that the cancellation of the event breached rights outlined in section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Sean Feucht, known as a Christian missionary and singer, has stirred controversy for his outspoken views on various topics. His organization, which conducts events in both Canada and the United States, had organized a tour called “Let Us Worship,” focusing on bringing Christian worship and the Gospel message to cities.
The City of Moncton revoked permits for Feucht’s concert two days before the scheduled show, citing non-compliance with the city’s Code of Conduct in City Facilities and concerns about safety due to planned protests. Feucht’s organization disputes the reasons for the cancellation, claiming it was based on the perception of Feucht’s conservative Christian values and support for the former U.S. President. The group argues that Feucht’s personal or political views would not have been part of the event.
The lawsuit seeks damages of $50,000. Following the cancellation in Moncton, the concert was relocated to “Bar None Camp” in Taxis River, incurring additional costs for the organization. Despite the move, the event saw a significant drop in attendance, impacting donations meant to cover tour expenses. The organization claims it fulfilled all city requests and had prepared security measures for the event.
The City of Moncton declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter. Feucht’s show faced similar cancellations in other Canadian cities, leading to legal action against Quebec City in the past. Burn 24/7 Canada aims for acknowledgment of the alleged rights infringement and hopes to deter similar actions by governments in the future.