Christian non-profit Voices of the Nations (VON) has been refused a permit to perform at Yonge-Dundas Square by Toronto city officials who believe Christian music is proselytization, which is banned by their board.
VON had been holding concerts at the location since 2008, but was denied a permit for next year. An online petition to protest the new move by city authorities has collected over 20,000 signatures.
YD Square's Manager Natalie Belman told VON Events Coordinator Leye Oyelani that the place will not be issued to them because their music insinuated proselytization with which their institution had a problem.
"I've already advised Peter [Paresh, Director of VON] that we're not going to be permitting you guys this year for next year because of the proselytizing on the square, and that's a big issue for us," LifeSiteNews reported Belman as telling Oyelani over phone.
"If you're praising Jesus, 'Praise the Lord,' and 'There's no God like Jehovah,' that type of thing, that's proselytizing," she told him.
In the city's Performance & Display Policy, "a specific political or religious point of view for the purpose of proselytizing" is prohibited, but it does not mention singing praises of God or mentioning the name of God.
According to the phone conversation transcript between Oyelani and Belman, songs played at the concert went against the policy.
"That seems to be a large part of your programming, it seems to be an integral part of what your mandate is, and given that, I think that you guys should be looking for a different venue, because that is not in-line with our policies," she said.
Founder of Christian Positive Space, Rev. David Lynn, who often preaches at the square and was present at this year's VON August concert, said: "How's a Christian at a Christian Event not to say the name of Jesus in their Songs?"
"Daily I see every kind of event, from Muslim, Buddhist, LGBT, Rap, Hindu, and they all share their beliefs and express their philosophies. That is the beauty of diversity, which, while I don't agree with everything everyone says, I nevertheless embrace it."
Any individuals who are discriminated based on their religion can lodge a complaint with The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
Director of Toronto Christian Business Directory Ben Robinson said it was "sad" that public authorities, discriminated "against a Christian group for singing songs in public about Jesus."
"It's almost as if we are nearing the last days where the Bible tells us that Christians will be persecuted for their faith. This is only the tip of the iceberg and I believe that things will only get worse, but we know that Jesus has already won the war," he told LifeSiteNews.
VON Director Peter Paresh showed LifeSiteNews endorsements previous events had received from former city councillors Doug Ford and Ana Bailao.
"I'm writing today to express my full support for the Voices of the Nations Concert, to be held at Young-Dundas Square on Saturday August 3, 2013," then-councillor Doug Ford had written to the Sarah Peel, the square's former event manager.
"This fantastic event contributes to the vibrancy and diversity of our City and I am proud to lend my support to it," wrote Ford.
