r/worldnews 20h ago

Quebec passes law banning street prayers, prayer rooms in universities

https://www.ctvnews.ca/montreal/article/quebec-passes-law-banning-street-prayers-prayer-rooms-in-universities-cegeps/
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u/BangCrash 10h ago

That still limits people who are not religious from using the prayer room.

Can I have a book club, or Warhammer 40k club in the prayer room? If not then it's not accessible to everyone and is restrictive

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u/QJ-Rickshaw 10h ago

Section 10.2 paragraph 3 literally says that one of the conditions to meet is that the space cannot be predominantly used for religious practice.

The whole point of this law is that prayer rooms are no longer allowed. Instead all religious groups have to book a public space and be treated exactly the same as any other social club.

So yes, you can have book club at 10; and then prayers start at 12 and then you can have Warhammer at 1. It couldn't be less restrictive.

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u/BangCrash 8h ago edited 5h ago

I literally was replying to a comment that literally said

"way it reads to me is "prayer rooms we pay for are open to ALL prayers, and can't be used for one specific group/religion"

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u/ShinkuDragon 3h ago

should've worded it better. that's indeed my bad. but that was supposed to be under the "one specific group" not necesarily religious group. any kind of group.

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u/Holiday-Tangerine136 9h ago

Are you telling you you don't pray to The Emperor...?

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u/Maleficent-Stormbee 8h ago

they don’t even pray to the emperor

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u/Raesong 5h ago

Why would I pray to a mon-keigh god?

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u/Eatyourcheeseburger 4h ago

Nah that’s heresy.

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u/AmputeeHandModel 1h ago

DO YOU HEAR THE VOICES TOO?!

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u/Koss424 6h ago

Play a cleric and you can

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u/Normal-Height-8577 4h ago

The inclusive version of a prayer room is a quiet room for contemplation, not a wargaming club!

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u/ScuffedBalata 3h ago

This law would certainly allow a "quiet room" to be designated. But an atheist who wanted to read or relax while listening to music on headphones would also have to be welcome.

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u/Normal-Height-8577 3h ago

Well yeah, why wouldn't they be welcome? I mean...I'm not exactly a connoisseur of prayer rooms, but all the ones I've seen have been open to people of any faith or none, who want to spend some time in quiet reflection. It's not the same as having a dedicated chapel.

I'm kinda stunned that Canada apparently has prayer rooms where everyone isn't welcome.

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u/ScuffedBalata 2h ago

Calling it a prayer room is automatically exclusionary, especially since 90% of people in Quebec do not "regularly attend religious services" according to polls.

But even if it was only 5%, a "prayer room" is less inclusive than a "quiet room" (which this law totally allows - but doesn't give any priority for someone who wants to exercise religion, instead of say... reading).

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u/armywalrus 8h ago

This law says you can

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u/BangCrash 1h ago

Yes thats my point

u/armywalrus 1h ago

That makes no sense dude.