Catholics Living In Fools' Paradise

Local News, By Christian Taylor, 1st July, 2008

So much for the seperation of Church and State. Not only are millions of dollars of NSW state taxes being squandered on World Youth Day, but now we’re saying goodbye to our rights too.

Police have been granted extra powers during the World Youth Day period, which runs from July 15 – 20. They have the power to arrest and fine people who “cause annoyance or inconvenience to participants” in World Youth Day. Partial strip searches are also permitted.

The fine for non-compliance is a hefty $5,500 – that’s triple the penalty you’d get for doing 45km/h in a school zone. It’s the kind of fine that gets handed down to high range drink drivers who have committed more than one offence. It’s totally ludicrous. The Greens MP Lee Rhiannon told the Sydney Morning Herald that if someone exposed themselves in public, they were only fined $1100, but someone wearing an anti-Pope t-shirt could be looking at five times that amount.

So what exactly causes inconvenience or annoyance? And quite frankly, why can’t the gays ask for the same protection in return next time we hold a Mardi Gras? Is wearing a t-shirt with an anti-religious slogan going to annoy the pilgrims? Is playing your Marilyn Manson records likely to inconvenience? What about the handing out of condoms to pilgrims as a political statement? That’s a totally valid, peaceful message to be giving these people. Nobody stops religious protesters at gay pride parades. In fact, when was the last time a group was protected in such a fashion? Honestly, what is going on with this country?

A spokesperson from the NSW Council of Civil Liberties has said that the words “causes annoyance” could potentially be used to describe any activity.

“People are going to be unaware that they have the power to do this and will find themselves in court facing an enormous fine.”

The laws are essentially about quarantining the Pope and the visiting Catholics in some sort of fools’ paradise, where messages from other parties are not allowed to be aired.

The Catholic Church have denied that they have asked for the powers, which were approved by Deputy Premier John Watkins at the end of last week.

Lets hope this sees even bigger turn outs at the two gay protests that are planned – the NoToPope condom rally, which starts from midday on Saturday July 19 at Taylor Square and Pope Alice’s Kiss In which takes place at Taylor Square from 3pm.

Your Thoughts

Tazia Doll

said ages ago

"What Catholic could possibly be offended by, say, an "authentic Mary Magdelene-style foot massage with fragrant oils" stall, run by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence?" Hate crime, works two ways.

GenesisInVain

said ages ago

Hate crime, works two ways. HATE CRIME :eek: I'm sorry but did you just use that word. Definition of hate crime An offense committed against another person, with the specific intent to cause harm to that person due to their race, gender, sexual orientation, or culture, etc. Yes it can work two ways. But a peaceful protest against an institution is now a hate crime? I don't think that there is a 'specific intent' to cause "harm" to any of the WYD kids or the volunteers. We're handing out condoms ffs. I think you've taken the word completely out of context just so you can diss the protest.

RealMcCoy

said ages ago

"What Catholic could possibly be offended by, say, an "authentic Mary Magdelene-style foot massage with fragrant oils" stall, run by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence?" Hate crime, works two ways. I can't believe you just called offering people foot rubs "a hate crime". Do you even listen to yourself? Do you know the difference between offering someone a foot rub and beating someone to death?? Unbelievable.

Tazia Doll

said ages ago

HATE CRIME :eek: I'm sorry but did you just use that word. Definition of hate crime An offense committed against another person, with the specific intent to cause harm to that person due to their race, gender, sexual orientation, or culture, etc. Yes it can work two ways. But a peaceful protest against an institution is now a hate crime? I don't think that there is a 'specific intent' to cause "harm" to any of the WYD kids or the volunteers. We're handing out condoms ffs. I think you've taken the word completely out of context just so you can diss the protest. What one had in SF, was hate crime, in Glasgow, Hate Crime, and all over Canada, hate crime, if they were left alone, people might just chill down. Jeepers, bringing in a heap of Kraut politicians to Warsaw, I kind of think the people of Warsaw, know what serious hate crime is when the Nazis are trying to do every last Jew and Home Army soldier before the Soviets get over the river. I don't see any reason to dress up as a nun with a inflatable plastic penis, maybe I'm a conservative in my old age, why the , conflict, protest, conflict. It is like that UN stuff, the two sets of soldiers are told to (a) stop being nasty (b) seek a little distance, (c) keep the noise down. What is wrong with that plan? Tazia Doll

Tazia Doll

said ages ago

I can't believe you just called offering people foot rubs "a hate crime". Do you even listen to yourself? Do you know the difference between offering someone a foot rub and beating someone to death?? Unbelievable. I don't see a Gay/Vatican conflict project as long term viable. I see a Vatican/Gay conflict model as being unlosable for Universal God Inc. They're, like a billion, & getting more radical. Tazia Doll

Bren

said ages ago

Why blame conservatism or old age for your aggressive, blinkered, conflationary comments here? There are plenty of nice conservatives, nice old people, and nice old conservatives around. The actual problem is simply that you're an assh*le. "It"? What is, the Catholic Church ? (That's what this thread is about, after all; do try and stay on topic) If you think being gay is "being nasty", why are you even lurking on this "nasty" gay forum (you being an apparently straight single 51 year old guy from a secret location). Although never fear, I'm sure Pell will write you a glowing letter to excuse you for that. LOL. Arch-conservative Anglicans probably used to think that too. Now they have women bishops AND gay bishops ;) Arch-conservative radicalism won't save the Catholic Church, not in this country at least. The only thing that might is for the tin men to gain a heart. Whichever is to happen, bring it on :)

Tazia Doll

said ages ago

"If you think being gay is "being nasty", why are you even lurking on this "nasty" gay forum (you being an apparently straight single 51 year old guy from a secret location). Although never fear, I'm sure Pell will write you a glowing letter to excuse you for that." I'd a string of hit recods once. I was also selling manufactured gender in the 1970s as an art idea. Secret is good enough for now. I woke up in a loft in Manhattan surrounded by flame-eaters oiling their bodies, I had this identiy crisis, it's that dock-rat, blue-collar conservative streak, just when I'm halfway to my own musical, I get cold feet and take-off to Cannes or Capri and wonder how poor people can afford Caciocavallo Silano I'll just wait for that letter. Tazia Doll

Bren

said ages ago

I'd a string of hit recods once. I was also selling manufactured gender in the 1970s as an art idea. Secret is good enough for now. I woke up in a loft in Manhattan surrounded by flame-eaters oiling their bodies, I had this identiy crisis, it's that dock-rat, blue-collar conservative streak, Or one acid trip too many. Free choice, such a risky business, eh? Forgive me for politely declining to prostrate before your nostalgia. Good luck and good fortune to you, sir. May warmth, wellbeing & happiness suffuse your existence :)

Tazia Doll

said ages ago

That sounds like Buena Vista Park , that became kind of malignant, the Warhol thing on the other side was safer, or so it seemed, I don't like talking about California, I am not so sure it's nostalgia, the entire point of self-anonymity is not that I reject recognition but rather I eschew investigation. I was (recently) shortlisted for a media prize in NYC and gave it a pass, not because I didn't want it, but because there would be too many questions. I think it is the same for many of us, if we got two shots at the life-gig, very few of us, would repeat the process step for step, I'm a feet of clay icon. I still hear my stuff played at gay clubs in Ibiza etc. it is mostly east-yurp & nordic goths. Most of my treasure stash was thrash metal via the US market. That was luck to be honest, if I was hit-up to pay off a lighting bill, or front tour merchanise, I would expect to be re-paid in a singular fashion, I was therefore given albums for a territory or for grey and parallel exports. That being pre-CD. I wouldn't have a clue how to release an album these days. But in the old days, a picture disc, with calender via BeNeLux, the major copyright holder in Japan or the USA would free pass the ( legally doubtful) competition. I was more of a NYC person being the short negative-acid summary. Tazia Doll

Bren

said ages ago

One can only imagine.. Can't see the relevance of such rambling self-expositions to the topic at hand or SameSame in general though. Keep your posts on topic and familiarise yourself better with the [URL="http://www.samesame.com.au/policy#communityGuidelines"]SameSame Community Guidelines already, would you please?

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