BishopAccountability.org
	Anti Pope Rally in Brisbane Herald Sun July 19, 2008 http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24045806-662,00.html PROTESTERS are rallying in Brisbane against Catholic policies, hours after Pope Benedict XVI apologised to sexual abuse victims. One of several rallies taking place in capital cities across the country by the NotoPope Coalition, the Brisbane rally opposes the Catholic Church's stance on issues such as same-sex marriage, adoption rights, abortion and contraception. Thousands of protesters are rallying in Brisbane. Rally organiser Paul Benedek said the Pope's apology was unacceptable unless it was matched with serious action that supported the victims, rather than the priests. "An apology can be quite hollow if it is not matched with action and we've seen very little from the church hierarchy to suggest that there is any change of action," he said. Mr Benedek said beyond the gloss of World Youth Day, it was very important for people to come out and say they didn't agree with over $100 million of public money going to support a religious event. "We don't support a Pope who is saying to people in Africa where there is a massive aids epidemic, "don't use condoms." "We don't support a Pope that is saying to gay people that their relationships are intrinsically evil. "We don't support a Pope who says to woman that they don't have the right to control their own bodies in reproduction." Fellow rally organiser Ewan Saunders said despite being held on a day many Catholics would regard as monumental, the group wasn't trying to undermiene people's faith. "We are not here to protest against people's right to practise their religious faith, we are here to bring light to the policies of the Catholic Church which have massively harmed millions and continue to do so today." Queensland Council for Civil Liberties president Michael Cope said he was attending the rally to try and get a stronger separation in powers between the Church and the State. "I'm here to talk about the civil liberties of the decision that was brought down in Sydney in relation to the laws that allowed police to move people who were causing inconvenience to the people who were attending World Youth Day," Mr Cope said. "People need to be aware that freedom of speech is not protected as it should be in Australia. "Freedom of speech should not be restricted because other people are annoyed or even inconvenienced, that's not the appropriate test for restricting freedom of speech, freedom of speech should be open unless there is violence associated with it."
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.