A Christian non-profit organization, established by an American musician whose concert got canceled in Moncton last year, is taking legal action against the city. The City of Moncton rescinded permits for a performance by Sean Feucht scheduled at a public park alongside the riverfront in July last year.
Burn 24/7 Canada, the non-profit founded by Feucht, filed a notice of action in Moncton court on August 4. The organization claimed that halting the “musical worship show” infringed on its freedom of expression rights, stating that these infringements were significant and impacted fundamental civil liberties in Canadian democracy.
According to the filed claim, Burn 24/7 Canada alleged that the cancellation violated rights protected under section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Feucht, a Christian missionary and singer known for his controversial views on various topics, including the 2SLGBTQ+ community, abortion rights, and critical race theory, organizes events across Canada and the United States.
The lawsuit mentioned that the tour’s purpose was to bring Christian worship and the message of the Christian Gospel to cities in Canada. The City of Moncton revoked the necessary permits just 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, who previously ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican and supports the MAGA movement, faced similar cancellations in other cities last year. Burn 24/7 Canada seeks $50,000 in damages, claiming that safety concerns were a pretext for canceling the event due to Feucht’s conservative Christian values and support for the former U.S. President.
Despite the claims made by the organization, no response to the lawsuit has been posted on the New Brunswick court website. The city declined to comment on the matter, stating it is a legal issue. The lawsuit aims to highlight the alleged infringement of rights and prevent similar actions by governments in the future.
When the Moncton show was canceled, Feucht relocated it to a settlement north of Fredericton. The organization incurred various costs due to the sudden change, including insurance, printing materials, and transportation. The event, relying on donations, experienced a significant attendance decrease at the new location compared to the expected turnout in Moncton.