A non-profit organization with religious affiliations, 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 The City of Moncton rescinded permits in July for a performance by Sean Feucht that was slated to be held in a public park along the riverfront. Burn 24/7 Canada, the non-profit founded by Feucht, initiated legal proceedings in Moncton court on August 4, alleging that the city’s halt to the “musical worship show” violated the organization’s freedom of expression rights.
According to the statement of claim, the revocation of permits by the City of Moncton infringed upon rights outlined in section 2(b) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, emphasizing the significance of these violations on fundamental civil liberties in Canadian democracy. Burn 24/7 Canada argues that the cancellation was not justified and insists that safety concerns cited by the city were not valid reasons to call off the event.
Feucht, known as a Christian missionary and singer, has been embroiled in controversy for his outspoken views against the 2SLGBTQ+ community, abortion rights, and critical race theory. His organization, Burn 24/7, conducts events across Canada and the United States, with Feucht touring various cities in Canada as a “worship leader” under his “Let Us Worship” initiative. The legal claim states that the purpose of the tour was to bring Christian worship and the message of the Gospel to cities across Canada.
The canceled Moncton show was relocated to “Bar None Camp” in Taxis River, north of Fredericton, following the permit revocation. Burn 24/7 incurred additional expenses due to this relocation, including liability insurance, printing costs for outreach materials, portable toilets, and fuel expenses. The organization asserts that the abrupt change in venue resulted in reduced attendance and donations, impacting the financial sustainability of the event.
Furthermore, the organization maintains that it adhered to all city requests during the planning process, including submitting necessary documentation and complying with safety protocols. Despite these efforts, the city abruptly revoked the permits two days before the scheduled show, prompting legal action from Burn 24/7 Canada to seek acknowledgment of the infringement on its rights and damages amounting to $50,000.