Sydney, Australia, Jul 15, 2008 / 16:13 pm
A Sydney court has overturned a law that would prevent protesters from “annoying” pilgrims at World Youth Day, ruling that it limited free speech. Bishop Anthony Fischer, who is in charge of facilitating the youth event, has suggested the overruling of the law would reduce the interest of those who were “cranky” with World Youth Day, saying such protestors will be overcome by the joy of pilgrims.
The New South Wales law had threatened fines of up to $5,500 against anyone causing “annoyance” to pilgrims at the massive Catholic event.
Activists said they plan to hold a rally on Saturday to demonstrate against the Church’s teaching on homosexuality and contraception. They say they will wear “provocative” T-shirts and hand out condoms.
Immediately following the decision Rachel Evans, one of the two protesters from the “No to Pope” group who took the case to court, started handing out condoms to pilgrims while wearing a shirt that read “The Pope is wrong, put a condom on,” according to the Times Online.