Why women, the city and London's churches have had enough of the city's street preachers

Speaking through an amplifier on one of London's busiest street corners, Matt Carapella tells a woman wearing pants that her attire is a"total perversion in God's eyes."

He also openly admits to confronting any passerby he thinks may be gay, calling theman "abomination."

Carapellais well known for his confrontational street preaching style.

He can often be found shouting scripture at Dundas and Richmond streets and in Victoria Park.

But CBC London has learned that Carapella along with another preacherStevenRavbar have been barred fromtwo city churches. They've also been asked to leave at least one other church foraggressively confronting parishioners and religiousleaders about their beliefs.

Ravbarwas alsoCarapella'sGrade 7 teacher.

A sample of Carapella's street preachingcan be found in this video, which was shared with CBC London by documentary photographer John Densky.

Here Carapellais speaking at the corner ofDundasand Richmond streets in downtown London:

Watch this street preacher shame women

7 years ago

Duration 2:38

A street preacher shames women in downtown London, Ont. Video submitted by John Densky.

Ousted from churches

Cory McKenna, who's a pastor at the Harvest Bible Chapelon Commissioners Road, had to get a trespass order issued against both Carapella andRavbarafter the pair refused his repeated requests to stop confronting his parishioners.

McKenna said the men regularlyshowed up during service and challenged people in the congregation about their beliefs. Theyeven confronted women about what they were wearing.

McKenna saidhe spoke to the menpolitelyon multiple occasions, telling them they had to be respectfulor leave.

"We tried to deal with them graciously, but they refused to listen," he said.

Ravbar deniedthat his questioning of parishioners interfered with their right to worship.

The pairwas also asked to leave the Open Door Church on Dundas Street. Both men left peacefully whenpolice showed up.

A church official who spoke to CBC News but did not want to be named said both Carapella and Ravbar"radiated a lot of anger" and would confront women about their clothes, sometimes calling them "whores."

Ravbaradmitted tochallengingthe church leaders at Open Doorbut saidhe didn't interfere with the service.

'Whore' and 'prostitute'

Marshal Burnham contacted CBC London about the preachersafter he was confronted by them on the street.

Burnham, who's a Christian,said Carapella called him an "evil, vile, sinner" because he wore shorts, which Carapella regarded as women's underwear.

"It's almost laughable," said Burnham.

He began a discussion with both men whoasked if his wife wore jeans. When Burnham said she did, Carapellatold him she was a "whore" and a "prostitute."

"It's mind-numbing to hear this stuff," saidBurnham.

In a phone interview with CBC News,Carapellaconfirmed the reportsof confronting women about their attire.

'Multiple complaints' to the city

City bylaw enforcement head Orest Katolyk said he's received "multiple complaints" about the street preaching of Carapellaand Ravbar on Dundas at Richmond streets and in Victoria Park.

He also saidthose complaints have led to an "active investigation" into whether their actions contravene nuisance bylaws that apply to public spaces.

The men could be liable for a fine of less than $1,000 or be issued a court summons for their actions, but so far that hasn't happened.

Katolyk said their behaviour falls into a "grey area" between free speech and interference of the public's right to be free from nuisance in a public space, such as a sidewalk.

London Police Service spokesperson Const. Sandasha Bough said police also have an active file about the actions of the two men.

"We continue to investigate with respect to noise and the content of their messaging," she said.

On mobile? You can listed to the interview with Pastor Cory McKenna by clicking here.