Demonstrators protesting the Pope’s visit to Sydney for World Youth Day celebrations this month will defy “repugnant” laws that lawyers warn could see fines of up to $5,500 slapped on protesters for wearing an “offensive” T-shirt.
The laws, which give police powers to arrest anyone they deem is causing “an annoyance or inconvenience” to the event, will apply to 40 Sydney city locations, including museums, galleries, cinemas, parks and any venues where the Pope will appear.
Police and supporting staff from fires services may also subject people entering hundreds of other “declared areas” to be subject to car, baggage and partial strip-searches.
Though the event runs from July 15 to July 20, the regulations come into force for the entire month of July.
Rachel Evans from the NoToPope Coalition said the group, which plans to hand out condoms to Catholic youth visiting Sydney, would defy the laws.
“Australia is supposed to be a democracy. Whatever happened to freedom of speech?” Evans told Evolution Online.
“We will be defying the laws by wearing T-shirts that have a range of messages on them, including, ‘The Pope is wrong: put a condom on’.
“We’re calling for all people to come out and wear T-shirts and defy the law. We must do it together.
“After the heavy handed APEC debacle, you’d think the NSW government would at least accept public dissent to this taxpayer-funded religious circus, rather than try and silence it with this over the top approach.
“Only the most hardened, right- wing conservatives would describe these laws as fair. Any reasonable Australian would describe them as offensive and unjust.”
Deputy Commissioner of NSW Police Dave Owens refused to rule out the possibility that the regulations could be used to arrest someone wearing an “offensive” T-shirt or handing out condoms.
“There are individual circumstances that will have to be dealt with individually,” Owens said in a media statement.
“Police officers always maintain a discretion, and I expect them to use that discretion.”
He said police would facilitate protests that were “law-abiding”.
However, a representative of victims of sexual abuse group Broken Rites has revealed senior police told them that all protest messages would need to be pre-approved.
“It will anger a lot of people who are very frustrated as they can't get anywhere with the church and now they are losing the right to get out there and tell the world,” Broken Rites spokesperson Chris MacIsaac told the Sydney Morning Herald.
President of the New South Wales Bar Association Anna Katzmann said the laws were “repugnant”.
"First of all, the government has by-passed the normal parliamentary scrutiny that would be available if they were introduced by an Act of Parliament," she said.
"Secondly, they are an unreasonable interference with people's freedom of speech and movement.
"If I were to wear a T-shirt proclaiming that 'World Youth Day is a waste of public money' and refuse to remove it when an officer … asks me to, I would commit a criminal offence," she said.
"How ridiculous is that?"
Rachel Evans said members of the NoToPope Coalition, which opposes the Catholic Church’s teachings on homosexuality, abortion and contraception, will march as planned along the Mardi Gras route towards Randwick Racecourse on July 19, where they will hand condoms to the some of the 500,000 pilgrims gathered there.
"We will protect our civil liberties and help young people to protect their health, and no pope or premier will stop us" Evans said.
And condoms could prove very useful according to at least one Sydney brothel, which is putting on extra staff during the event.
Sydney brothel Xclusive is expecting an increase in trade.
"We will get a lot of tourists, pilgrims and we will still get the curious," a spokeswoman for Xclusive told AFP.
"The World Council of Churches, when they had their congress in Canberra back in the 1990s – that was the best business period ever.
“Obviously we're not promoting it at your traditional Catholic community and it's unlikely we will get priests through. But there'll be lots of tourists in town and there'll be lots of people in town.”
The event is claimed to attract up to 500,000 pilgrims.
"The church is just using its massive corrupt power to its own will. I'm sick of these religious nuts getting their own way"
I cannot believe I am reading this.
This is so ignorant and bigoted! The Catholic church is simply trying to celebrate at a location with other like-minded/hearted people from around the world and it just happens to be right under the nose of some sour-puss nosed kill-joys here.
Let them celebrate what they like for God's sake! Mardi Gras is celebrated in freedom so how is this any different.
They don't believe in sex before marriage hence the use of condoms or abortion or homosexual relationships are not allowed- that is their belief...
If they wish to have their celebration free of offensive protesters then let them... they have every right to be left to have a peaceful, joyful time.
Leave them alone to believe what they want!
... written by Ben Jones , 12 July, 2008
This is the latest in the religionization of Australia. For years right wing religous nutbags have infiltrated our government and now we are reaping the rewards. Look forward to this situation getting worse before it gets any better.
P.S While I am alas not in a position to do so I encourage any wealthy individual to remove the threat of the new laws by offering to cover any of these ridiculous $5500 fines.
... written by Declan , 11 July, 2008
So long, civil liberties. I am actually frightened now. If we can't wear what we like and express ourselves in the ways that we wish, then what do we have left? I urge everyone: go and protest and disobey these laws. People power will prevail against the interests of big government in NSW if we have solidarity.
... written by Em , 11 July, 2008
Felix, they don't come out to the Mardi Gras because they have control of everything else. The Mardi Gras started because people had no voice and get gay-bashed - homophobia that the church advocates. Similarly, victims of bad priests got nowhere with the church, and had to resort to protests. Now NSW is ignoring its own victims rights laws by effectively telling them to shut up. I find that situation absolutely appalling.
This is not about denying pilgrims the right to gather, this is about institutions and how they are stepping on our rights.
... written by Harlekkin , 09 July, 2008
Whilst I think the new laws have been worded in a somewhat clumsy way, I won't expect them to be enforced to the extent advertised.
Any protester that deliberately stops the flow or tries to disrupt an event will face fines - it's always been that way. It's simply the media attention and the loose definition of the new laws that are causing a stir.
WYD08 will be huge for Sydney, and even though I'm not a Catholic I say let them have their Pope Rendezvous.
If we as gay people want to be tolerated and accepted I find it hypocritical to turn against the Catholics in a spiteful or even hateful manner.
I'm more concerned about how I'm gonna get to work and do my everyday tasks during WYD08 than anything else.
... written by McShandy , 07 July, 2008
I'm a little surprised by the new laws and the restrictions on free speech and free expression of opinion usually associated with democratic cultures.
I understand the need to maintain public order however feel the government have taken a rather immature approach.
People have the right to free speech and restricting this may have the adverse effect of encouraging those protesters who may wish to take a more forceful approach.
I am an atheist, do not agree with public money being spent on this, but do not abide protests which are not peaceful.
... written by Felix , 07 July, 2008
While I agree WYD is a waste of taxpayers money and those participating should foot the bill themselves, aside from that they've got a right to hold a peaceful gathering to promote their views and their faith without interference from others who want to use the occasion to pursue their own agendas and know they'll get publicity for it so it's a publicity stunt from anyone who protests for such reasons. I think the police have a right to ensure that "vilification" ie. inciting public hatred or ridicule is upheld. The Church doesn't come out at the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras publicly vilifying those of homosexual orientation. As per usual homosexuals looking for attention through attention seeking mechanisms at the expense of others.
... written by marysmith , 03 July, 2008
The Catholic Church's stand on contraception and abortion is a danger to women's health. The World Health Organization estimates that around 68.000 women around the world die from the effects of unsafe/illegal abortion.
... written by Not Amused , 03 July, 2008
One of the rights of a democracy is the right to accept the consequences of one's actions.
If you get arrested/fined by the Police for wearing a deliberately inflammatory t-shirt after you've been warned not to by the Government that you elected; then you're an idiot and deserve it.
Take some personal responsibility instead of blaming all your woes on everyone else.
... written by Petra Foster , 02 July, 2008
And I thought NSW Police would have learnt from APEC - instead they are trying very hard to make a fool out of themselves... again.
... written by Clive Mace , 02 July, 2008
So much for freedom of speech and freedom of expression. I wonder how those hollier that thou christians feel about the arrest and perhaps a fine handed out to some poor individual that's been sexually molested as a child by a priest. Mind you these people, the cardinals the pope and all the guests have the hide to call themselves christians. Well I ask them this, would Jesus have allowed this kind of injustice. More than likely he'd be the first one arrested. Not a word from Cardinal Pell not a word from the Pope. What happened to standing up for the oppressed. (silence) What's the line from Chapter 4 of Luke's gospel: 'Jesus says my mission is to eradicate poverty and to bring about freedom and liberation for the oppressed'..
... written by Bob Newman , 02 July, 2008
I'm appalled at these new regulations. Nobody penalizes Catholics (and other religions) for trying to inflict their religion on non believers. I.e., convert them. Why should anyone be penalized for protesting the illogic of Catholics?
... written by joe342 , 02 July, 2008
The church is just using its massive corrupt power to its own will. I'm sick of these religious nuts getting their own way, which is so very primitive.
... written by Luther was right , 02 July, 2008
The Catholic Church are the original gangsters... the oldest organized crime 'family' in history.
It is our right to express distaste for such a reprehensible organization. It's called freedom of speech - one of the cornerstones of a modern democratic nation.
These laws are draconian... i have grave fears about the path Australia is following.
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