Members of Parliament Criticize Man Who Interrupted Quebec Church Service and Performed Islamic Prayer
Two MPs have spoken out against a minor e-celebrity who disrupted a recent Catholic Mass in Quebec and performed an Islamic prayer.
“This disruption of a Catholic Mass is appalling. It’s also a criminal act,” wrote Conservative MP Michael Barrett on X (formerly Twitter) Jan. 25.
“This must be condemned as we would if this was done to any other religion,” said Mr. Vuong.
“Similarly, more needs to be acted on re: acts of arson against churches. The case for an Office of Religious Freedom with an international AND domestic mandate becomes ever stronger to protect all of faith.”
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“Excuse me, my father,” Mr. Absi says in French to the priest. “I can’t find a mosque, would it bother you if I prayed over there? It’s a sacred place.”
The priest politely agrees and gestures toward the floor a few feet away.
The camera then pans over to an elderly woman taking in the scene. She makes the sign of the cross. Mr. Absi’s video captions the action with the phrase, “She is shocked,” including a laughter emoji.
Mr. Absi begins to pray on a small carpet in Islamic fashion. After a while, he leaves and thanks the priest on his way out.
Mr. Barrett noted the muted response of the congregation to the events that took place.
“The reserved response of clergy and the gathered faithful isn’t indifference – it’s a testament to their devotion,” he said on X.
The Epoch Times reached out to Mr. Absi about Mr. Barrett’s comments. He responded over Facebook Messenger, saying his intention was to “highlight tolerance within Canadian society.”
“Your interest in my video is greatly appreciated,” he wrote.
“My intention was to share the beauty of Christianity and highlight tolerance within Canadian society. By humbly asking for permission to pray, I aimed to respect the space while celebrating my faith. The positive reaction from my Christian peers confirms the loving aspect of this religion and its ability to promote tolerance,” he added.
One video he posted to Facebook, with 32 million views, shows him dousing himself with what appears to be gasoline from a gas can on a busy city street. As he pretends to look for a lighter, a good Samaritan stops him and pulls him away from the puddle of liquid on the street. Mr. Absi laughs, points to the camera filming the ruse, and hugs the man.
It states that anyone who willfully disturbs or interrupts an assembly meeting for religious worship or for moral, social, or benevolent purposes is guilty of an offence.
The section is designed to protect the right to freedom of religion and belief, as well as to maintain public safety and social order. It broadly defines “assemblage” to include various types of gatherings and “disturbance” to encompass any disruptive act. Offences under the section are punishable under summary conviction and can result in fines or imprisonment of up to six months.
The Epoch Times reached out to the Catholic Archbishop of Quebec for comment, but he did not respond before press time.
