Australia Attempts to Muzzle Protesters of Pope Visit

Wearing T-shirts that read ''Pope go homo'' and ''The pope is wrong, put a condom on!'', a dozen demonstrators poked fun Wednesday in Sydney at a new Australian law meant to protect participants of next week's World Youth Day from being "annoyed" by opponents. The new rules, which critics have panned as a form of censorship, give authorities the power to order anyone to stop behavior that ''causes annoyance or inconvenience'' to the 250,000 pilgrims expected in Sydney for the Roman Catholic festival being held July 15-20.

Anyone who doesn't comply could face a fine of $5,300.

The law will apply in dozens of areas of downtown Sydney -- including the city's landmark opera house, train stations, and city parks -- that are designated venues for World Youth Day, which will culminate in a papal mass.

Police and the New South Wales state government say they are a necessary security measure. Libertarians and rights activists disagree.

''These annoyance laws are outrageous,'' said Rachel Evans, a spokeswoman for the NoToPope Coalition that helped organize Wednesday's protest.

The coalition, made up of gay rights, student, and atheist groups, is planning a July 19 march to protest what it calls the pope's homophobic and antiquated ideas. The group is also planning to distribute condoms to young pilgrims and speak with them about human rights issues.

The Roman Catholic Church bans the use of condoms and other forms of artificial birth control, another point of irritation for protesters at Wednesday's gathering, dubbed the "annoying protest."

''What's evil about latex?'' Evans yelled into a bullhorn as pedestrians wandered past, a few pausing briefly to stare. ''I don't know! And we don't know here at the annoying fashion show!''

Demonstrator Colin Charlton gleefully held up a series of T-shirts, one bearing a picture of the pope's face surrounded by the words ''We put it on down under,'' another reading ''This T-shirt is annoying,'' followed by the names of several government officials.

To Charlton the annoyance law is just another in a string of poor decisions by Australia's leaders.

''They can't get anything right, this government,'' said Charlton, 57, of Sydney. ''If they'd have shut up, there would have been a little [demonstration] Saturday week of a few people. Now there's gonna be thousands, because Sydney-siders are saying we want to keep our rights, which are being eroded away.''

Danny Casey, chief operating officer of World Youth Day, told reporters Tuesday that officials are not concerned about the planned protests.

''Protesters tend to make a lot more noise prior to the event than they do during the event,'' he said. ''World Youth Day will be a wonderful celebration; there will be enormous joy flowing through the city. People are free to protest. We believe in free speech -- we practice it ourselves -- so we don't have any particular concerns about disrupting the event.''

Eden Bates, wearing a hot-pink wig, a matching ''There is NO GOD'' tank top, and fluffy white boa, bounced up and down, clapping and chanting as a tour bus ambled by. He caught the attention of one passenger, who gave a small wave.

''We want to express ourselves and what we've got to say has to be heard, I believe,'' Bates said. ''It's OK for the Catholics to celebrate their day, but there's another side to the story, and it has to be told.'' (Kristen Gelineau, AP)