SAGUENAY, Que - The collection plate is filling fast for a Quebec municipality on a religious mission.
Saguenay says it has raised $23,000 on the first full day of a high-profile fundraising drive. It needs cash to keep up its legal battle against those who want to stop prayers at council meetings.
Someone complained about the crucifix and Sacred Heart statue in the council chamber, along with prayers before the meetings.
That led Quebec's human-rights tribunal to order a stop to the practice, and the city wants to appeal.
Saguenay's colourful mayor, Jean Tremblay, has created a 1-800 number and placed an image of Jesus Christ, with his palm outstretched, seeking donations on the city website.
"Where are we French-Canadians going with our values?'' Tremblay asked Wednesday, as he announced the appeal bid.
"Where will we French-Canadians be in 50 years?''
In a verdict rendered last week, the human-rights tribunal ordered the crucifix removed, demanded an end to prayers at council meetings, and asked the city to pay $30,000 in penalties to the citizen who complained.
In his address to reporters Wednesday, the firebrand mayor confidently stated that in the entire history of the human race, there had never been a precedent for such persecution as that suffered by his administration.
"In the history of the world, and we verified this just for fun, this has never happened,'' Tremblay said.
"Not even in antiquity, not even in the Middle Ages -- a mayor punished for saying a prayer!''
