Quebec's prohibition on public prayer, according to the Archbishop of Montreal, infringes upon basic liberties

In a move that has sparked controversy, Quebec's Minister Jean-François Roberge announced plans last Thursday to introduce a new bill in the fall, aiming to prohibit praying in public spaces. This decision has been met with criticism from various religious and political figures, as well as community leaders.

The proposed ban has been denounced by Muslim groups who feel targeted by Quebec's secularism laws. In a reaction to the Quebec's plan, Archbishop Christian Lépine published an op-ed in La Presse on Monday, expressing concerns about the potential impact of such a law on religious freedom and long-standing traditions.

Archbishop Lépine, in his op-ed, questioned the distinction between prayer and moments of silence or silent meditation, stating that praying is a right guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He also argued that any law outlawing prayer could potentially reduce the freedom of society as a whole.

The archbishop further noted that a ban on public prayer could compromise the very existence of long-held Catholic traditions, such as the Way of the Cross and the Palm Sunday march, which take place in public spaces. He expressed his belief that diversity of beliefs is welcome and contributes to the richness of Quebec.

Côte-Saint-Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein applauded the report's suggestion that the measure should instead be left up to individual municipalities to decide, believing that municipalities know their communities best and would not allow prayer blocking the street or in other unreasonable situations.

Stephen Brown, the CEO of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, has stated that the idea of prayer in the street being a new or dangerous thing is absurd. He added that the proposed ban seems to be a political move meant to please the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) base amid poor performance in the polls, a view shared by both Stephen Brown and Tom Mulcair.

Despite the backlash, Roberge's office declined to comment on the op-ed when reached Monday morning. The committee's report, released earlier, stopped short of recommending a province-wide ban on prayers in public places, suggesting instead that the decision be left to individual municipalities.

Archbishop Lépine concluded his op-ed by stating that confusing the neutrality of the state with the neutralization of society would be a serious step backward. He emphasised that Quebec's moves to make the province more secular should not spell the end of faith in society.

As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how the proposed ban on public prayer will impact religious freedom and long-standing traditions in Quebec.

Quebec's prohibition on public prayer, according to the Archbishop of Montreal, infringes upon basic liberties