By Ed Johnson
Bloomberg
July 2, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aYtNjoViTIuE&refer=asia
Australian authorities defended giving police the power to fine protesters more than $5,000 if they annoy or inconvenience Catholic pilgrims during Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Sydney this month.
 |
The New South Wales state government, which introduced the regulations last week, said they are necessary to police the World Youth Day event, which organizers say will draw more than 125,000 international visitors to Sydney from July 15-20.
The state's Bar Association yesterday said the rules infringe basic rights, while groups protesting the Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality and contraception say they undermine freedom of speech.
The regulation is "about providing for the safety and comfort of people attending the event," the office of state Deputy Premier John Watkins said in an e-mailed statement late yesterday. "Provisions such as these are essentially consistent with other major events and sporting venues."
Officers and emergency services have been given the right to stop conduct that "causes annoyance or inconvenience" to participants in the event and fine people as much as A$5,500 ($5,270) if they refuse to comply.
Sexual Abuse
Police yesterday advised groups that may protest during the event they should have placards, banners and T-shirts vetted to avoid the risk of being fined, according to Chris MacIsaac, the president of the organization Broken Rites that represents victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests.
"Isn't this a ridiculous situation," she said by telephone today. "Where is freedom of speech?"
While Broken Rites doesn't plan to stage demonstrations, individuals who suffered abuse may wish to protest during the pope's visit, said MacIsaac, adding she was concerned that "upset, distressed and angry" people could be fined for expressing their views.
Inspector Kevin Daley of New South Wales police didn't immediately respond to telephone calls seeking comment today.
World Youth Day is billed as the largest youth event in the world and organizers say it will attract more overseas visitors to Sydney than the 2000 Olympic Games.
Catholic Church
Neither the Catholic Church nor Cardinal George Pell, the Catholic archbishop of Sydney, asked for the additional police powers, event organizers said in an e-mailed statement.
"World Youth Day is a peaceful and joyous celebration of youth and faith and has been so for more than 20 years," the organizers said in the statement. "However, we understand some people may want to protest and they have the right to do so peacefully and lawfully."
Anna Katzmann, president of the New South Wales Bar Association, yesterday called the powers "unnecessary and repugnant."
The NotoPope Coalition, which includes Christians, atheists and gay groups planning to protest the visit, says it will distribute condoms to pilgrims and hold a protest march to Royal Randwick Racecourse on July 19, a day before the pope is scheduled to conduct a mass there.
About 26 percent of Australia's 21.3 million people described themselves as Catholic in the most recent census, carried out in 2001, according to the government's Bureau of Statistics.
To contact the reporter on this story: Ed Johnson in Sydney at ejohnson28@bloomberg.net.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.