Quebec, which officially celebrates several Christian holidays, has banned religious symbols in the public sector under the obviously false pretext of "secularism."

... reason? What you're looking for is a pretext, isn't it?

He used the fact that his sleeve was caught in the brambles as a pretext to do nothing.

Whereas before I had no pretext on which to give an account of my life, now I have got one.

He made up a pretext for a fight with me.

He delayed payment on some pretext or other.

Some arrangements about his horse and baggage formed the pretext for his sudden retreat.

He came to my house on the pretext of seeing me.

He fired me and offered a pretextual rationale for the firing.

He did not come on the pretext of sickness.