Catholic bishops in Quebec oppose premier’s suggestion to ban public prayer [Video]

Quebec’s Catholic bishops have come out against Premier François Legault’s desire to end prayer in public places, saying it would violate people’s constitutional rights.

Martin Laliberté, president of the assembly of Catholic bishops of Quebec, says he was “stunned” by Legault’s recent suggestion that he would like to ban prayer in parks and on city streets. He believes a ban on public prayer would affect a wide range of activities practised by people of many faiths.

Legault raised the possibility of ending public prayer during a press conference Friday, which he began by saying he wanted to send a “very clear message to Islamists.”

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The Quebec government has promised to introduce new legislation to strengthen secularism in schools, following reports of Muslim prayer and other religious practices being permitted in Quebec public schools. When asked …