Montreal archbishop condemns proposed prayer ban in Quebec: ‘Like banning thought’

 Montreal Archbishop Christian Lépine said proposals to ban public prayer in Quebec ‘raise serious concerns about respect for fundamental freedoms in a democratic society.’

Montreal Archbishop Christian LépineÉglise catholique à Montréal/YouTube

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Clare Marie Merkowsky

MONTREAL (LifeSiteNews) — Montreal Archbishop Christian Lépine condemned Quebec’s proposed prayer ban, comparing it to forbidding thought.

In a September 2 letter posted on the diocesan website, Archbishop Lépine warned against proposed legislation that would ban prayer in public places in Quebec, including historical French Catholic processions.

“Prayer, in its simplest form, is an inner impulse,” he wrote. “It is a thought turned toward God who is goodness, a presence in the world, a way of seeking peace. However, some recent proposals to ban public prayer raise serious concerns about respect for fundamental freedoms in a democratic society.“

In August, Quebec announced that it plans to ban prayer in pubic places, after Muslim groups have begun publicly praying in Quebec streets and parks. The details of the legislation have not yet been released. However, the government has indicated that it is prepared to use the notwithstanding clause to uphold the ban.

In addition to the legal and constitutional challenges of a prayer ban, Archbishop Lépine questioned how a government would regulate the internal thoughts of a person to determine if they constitute prayer.

More: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/montreal-archbishop-condemns-proposed-prayer-ban-in-quebec-like-banning-thought/