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	Catholic Priest Criticises WYD Laws ABC News July 3, 2008 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/03/2293425.htm Catholic priest and lawyer Frank Brennan says he stands by his comments that laws introduced for World Youth Day are unworkable and unjust. Under the new regulations, people who refuse to stop engaging in conduct that causes annoyance or inconvenience to pilgrims can be arrested and fined up to $5,500. Father Brennan says normal police powers would have been adequate for the event, and it is regrettable the laws could encourage protests. "To have local domestic issues such as questions about excessive police power by a fairly neglectful New South Wales Government not being adequately attentive to civil liberties, I think that's the last thing anyone wants," he said. He says the rights of protesters, as well pilgrims, need to be protected. "If you go back to what is really the great charter of rights in the Catholic Church - the 1963 document issued by Pope John the 23rd - there's very strong endorsement of the idea that what we've got to do is safeguard the rights of everyone, not just pilgrims, but also protesters." The new laws yesterday provoked criticism from the New South Wales Bar Association, who said they undermine basic rights and are an affront to freedom of speech. The same provision did not apply during last year's APEC Summit in Sydney. But NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione has rejected suggestions the powers go further than those in place for APEC. "We will not be requiring anyone that is seeking to conduct a lawful public assembly to tell us what's on their t-shirt, what is in their messages or what will be on their banners," he said. "We're not the fun police, we're not here to police that, that is not our role."
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