Friday 21st of November 2008
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roman holiday .....

roman holiday .....

After fights over rising costs and falling pilgrim estimates, government and church both need World Youth Day to be a hit, writes Linda Morris. 

In the autumn of 2003, a high-ranking Vatican official visited Sydney for a week. He was Cardinal James Stafford, a member of John Paul II's inner circle and a mate of the Sydney Archbishop, Cardinal George Pell.

It was primarily an informal visit but he met the then premier, Bob Carr, and business leaders, and toured Sydney's Olympic Park and other prime venues. 

It was the first indication of the serious backing being given to the Sydney Catholic Church's bid for World Youth Day, a jubilee of Catholic youth celebration held outside of Rome every three years or so. Never before had the event come to Oceania or to a country with as small a Catholic population as Australia. 

Stealing it from Europe required a sea-change in thinking in Rome. Previously, Sydney had been considered too remote an outpost of the Catholic empire. 

Almost There: The Long Road To Success


rubber chastity...

Activists win right to promote condoms to Catholics at World Youth Day
  • Barbara McMahon in Sydney
  • Young Catholics attending World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney may find themselves swamped with offers of free condoms after legislation giving police the power to arrest anyone who "annoys" pilgrims was overturned by a court.

Activists opposed to the church's stance on contraception and abortion successfully appealed the laws, passed by the New South Wales government.

Members of the NoToPope coalition argued in a federal court challenge on Tuesday that the anti-annoyance regulations, which carry fines of $5,500, were invalid and contrary to civil liberties.

Three judges agreed, saying the measures designed to help police keep order during the six-day festivities "should not be interpreted as conferring powers that are repugnant to fundamental rights and freedoms".

University students Rachel Evans and Amber Pike, who challenged the legislation, said they and other protesters would now hand out condoms, stickers and leaflets to pilgrims. "Symbolic coat-hangers", designed to draw attention to the problem of backyard abortions, would also be distributed.