Shut Up, It's Catholic World Youth Day

A T-shirt or a banner promoting the use of birth control? Those will very possibly be illegal during Catholic World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. Other potentially arrestable offenses: thumbing one's nose at the visiting "Holy Father," yelling slogans deemed hostile to the Catholic church, and passing out flyers demanding that priests find other things to fuck than 10-year-old choirboys.

Anyone deemed to be causing annoyance could be arrested and fined up to Australian $5,500. New South Wales deputy police commissioner Dave Owens says the regulations do not restrict democratic rights. ... "Police officers always maintain a discretion, and I expect them to use that discretion."

There have been suggestions that people could be arrested if they wear a T-shirt that promotes the use of condoms. Mr Owens refused to rule that out.

"Causing annoyance." Sweet Jeebus. I very much wish I could have people like commissioner Owens arrested, as they profoundly and irredeemably annoy me.

Incidentally, although our current calendarial system was introduced by 16th-century Pope Gregory XIII, the church still seems to have a problem actually using it. I thought a day was 24 hours, but Catholic World Youth Day takes place from July 15-20; and just to be on the safe side, sources say, the cops are already enforcing their shut-up-or-get-arrested measures today, 12 days before the event kicks off.

Meanwhile, American Catholics are staying away from the Sydney lovefest in droves, because of the economy and gas prices.

Y'know, Christ got nailed to the cross for his beliefs. That's sacrifice. Not wishing to drive to the airport because of the price of a gallon of regular — nah, not so much.

      =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

P.S.: In fairness, some local Catholics are dismayed by the civil-liberties crackdown, too, and argue that it's against the Church's own teachings (proving that, just because you're part of a flock, doesn't mean you have to act like a sheep). Very cool. Those are people I'd happily break bread with.

[via Mediawatchwatch]

Comments

[Mars]

I'm an American Catholic, but I can't believe the temerity of this. I don't know the free-speech laws in Aussie, but that is just wrong. (I enjoy stating the blatantly obvious)

"New South Wales deputy police commissioner Dave Owens says the regulations do not restrict democratic rights."

Yeah, right. Where did he get *that* idea? Sometime during the Spanish Inquisition? I'd love for him to show me how it does *not* restrict democratic rights.

[Hittman]

If you live in a free society you can expect to be regularly annoyed by people exercising their freedom. It is one of the prices of freedom – perhaps the most trivial one. The more often you're annoyed, the more free your society.

We are now regulating every annoyance, no matter how trivial, out of existence, and as a result becoming a nation of children ruled by bureaucratic nannies. But at least we won't have to up with minor annoyances!

[RJP]

Good. I'm glad they won't tolerate abusive and hostile activity aimed at inciting an otherwise joyful, peaceful religious celebration by near a million young adults.