The Sean Fecht affair: Chronicle of a controversy and a fine
Who is Sean Fecht?
Sean FEUCHT is a American Christian musician Born in 1983, a former praise leader in Bethel Church and founder of the US Worship let movement. He made himself known for his positions controversial Aligned on the Maga (Make America Great Again) movement of Donald Trump, and was described by The Atlantic Magazine as a “Christian nationalist” become a “Superstar Maga”.
FEUCHT A Applicated without success as a republican at the California Congress in 2020 and distinguished itself by its polemical positions against the community 2SLGBTQ+abortion, and the health measures of COVID-19. He organized protest concerts Against confinements during the pandemic and maintained links with the Trump administration.
The Canadian tour “revives in ’25” and series cancellations.
The controversy started when Feucht announced its Canadian tour “Revive in ’25 – Let us Worship” Organized by Burn Canada. Six concerts initially planned in eastern Canada have been systematically canceled ::
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Halifax : Parks Canada revoked the license at the Redoute York National Historical Site, citing “Growing public security concerns” and “Planned protests”
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Charlottetown : cancellation for “Public security concerns”
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Moncton (N.-B.) : the event was tried “Non -compliant with the code of conduct” Municipal installations
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Quebec : Expocité has canceled because “The presence of a controversial artist was not mentioned when signing the contract”
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Gauge : the National Capital Commission has canceled for “Public security concerns”
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Vaughan (Ontario) : citing cancellation “Health and safety as well as community standards”
The Montreal concert (July 25, 2025)
After the cancellation of his show in Quebec, Fecht announced the Thursday July 25 that he had found a new place : L’Evangelical Church Ministeros Restaurant located 3747 rue Berri In the Plateau-Mont-Royal district of Montreal.
The church, which mainly serves the Hispanic community with about 700 faithfulagreed to host the event at the last minute. This evangelical church, also known asMR churchhas been operating in Quebec for over 30 years.
The reaction of the city of Montreal
The mayor Valérie Plante and his administration have immediately reacted at the announcement of the concert. Catherine Cadottemain press officer, said the event “Go against the values of inclusion, solidarity and respect which are advocated in Montreal”.
Crucial, the municipal authorities have discovered that the church had not obtained the necessary permit To organize a concert. Philippe Massé, spokesperson for the mayor, said: “The church does not have a license to organize a concert” and that “The church had been informed that the event could not take place”.
Production and incidents
Despite the municipal opposition, the concert took place the Friday July 25, 2025 in the evening. The event was marked by several incidents ::
Demonstrations and arrests
Of the demonstrators gathered in front of the church to oppose the show. Montreal police (SPVM) arrested A 38 year old man for obstruction. The authorities had been previously warned of the possibility of demonstrations.
Incident inside the church
According to police reports, A smoke bomb was triggered inside the church During the performance of FEUCHT. Sean Fecht subsequently asserted on social networks that “Two smoke bombs had been launched on his head” During the concert.
Offer report: $ 2,500
The district Plateau-Mont-Royal emitted a Infraction observation at the Evangelical Church Ministerios Restaurant for a fine of $ 2,500. This sanction was confirmed by the office of the mayor Valérie Plante on Saturday July 26, 2025.
The fine is based on the non-compliance with municipal regulations. According to Philippe Massé: “A report of offense has been issued since the organization has violated the rules by maintaining the show”.
Montreal municipal regulations require Specific permit for the organization of public events. For concerts, even in private places such as churches, authorizations can be required according to the magnitude and nature of the event.
Legal debate on the required permit
A legal debate emerged concerning the need for a permit. Jean-Christophe Jasminspokesperson for Quebec Evangelical Network representing 500 Evangelical Protestant churches, challenged this requirement, affirming that “The event should not have required a license at all because it was part of a religious rally of routine”.
Jasmin also reported that since the incident, City church leaders call to ask if they could also face fines for organizing concerts.
Sean Fecht reaction
FEUCHT A strongly reacted on social networks, declaring: “Now you want to inflict a fine in the church for doing what a church does: to practice its worship”. He described the situation as “Christian persecution” and accused Canada of “Tyranny and censorship”.
Position of civil liberties experts
Several Civil liberties experts have criticized the actions of the Canadian authorities:
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Josh DehaasLegal Advisor to the Canadian Constitution Foundation, said that “His rights to freedom of expression, assembly and religion have all been raped”
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James TurkDirector of the Center for Free Expression at the Metropolitan University of Toronto, although opposed to the political positions of Fecht, said: “In a democracy, we deal with differences through discourse, argumentation, boycott, ignoring, by protest. We do not treat them by silenced and censors people ”
Official position of Montreal
The Plant Administration has maintained its position, with Philippe Massé declaring: “Freedom of expression is part of our fundamental values, but hateful and discriminatory words are not accepted in Montreal”.
Subsequent consequences and events
After Montreal, Fecht has Continued his tour By finding alternative places. On Saturday July 26, he gave a concert in A field open at the corner of the Halfway and Highway 17 in Alfred, Ontarioafter the National Capital Commission has canceled its license at Jacques-Cartier Park in Gatineau.
There Prime Minister of Alberta Danielle Smith publicly declared that Fecht was “Welcome to worship on the marches of the Alberta Legislative Assembly”marking government support on its tour in western Canada.
Implications and debates
This case raised fundamental questions on the balance between Freedom of religious expression and inclusion values in Canadian public space. It illustrates the growing tensions around speeches deemed controversial and the capacity of the municipal authorities to regulate public events on the basis of ideological content.
The fine of $ 2,500 imposed on the Ministeros Restaurant Church remains a significant previous In the debate on the limits of religious freedom and expression in Quebec and Canada.
Sources and references
- “Fine of $ 2,500 for the Montreal church which presented the spectacle of the pro-Trump singer”-Journal de Montréal, July 26, 2025
- “City Fines Montreal Church for Hosting Maga-Affiliated Singer Sean Feucht”-Global News, July 28, 2025
- “City Fines Montreal Church for Hosting Maga-Affiliated Singer Sean Feucht”-The Albertan, July 26, 2025
- “The church which received Sean Fecht received a fine of $ 2,500 from the city” – 98.5 FM, July 28, 2025
- “Mag-Affiliated Musician’s Concert Draws Condemnation from City of Montreal”-CBC, July 25, 2025
- “Sean FEUCHT in Montreal: the city contradicts the license”-free Media, July 31, 2025
- “The singer Sean Feucht is not welcome in Montreal” – Le Soleil, July 25, 2025
- “Explained: Who is sean feucht and what has he was accused of? ” – First Christianity, June 23, 2025
- “MR Church – Church Ministry Catering” – Official website
- “Book Sean – Sean Fecht” – Official website
- “Ministerios Restaurant Montreal” – Mapquest
- “The authorities cancel the concerts of a Christian singer” – Montemiscouata, July 24, 2025
- “Ministerios Restaurant (@Mirestauracionmtl)” – Instagram
