Court rules pope protest laws unconstitutional

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Under the laws, protesters could be arrested or fined A$5,500 (2,683 pounds) for wearing anti-Catholic T-shirts or for handing out condoms in protest at church doctrine on sex and marriage.

Civil liberties leaders said the laws stifled freedom of speech and were open to abuse by police who were mounting an Olympic-style security operation for the papal visit.

The Federal Court in Sydney ruled on Tuesday that the law relating to annoying and inconveniencing pilgrims went beyond the intention of the local state parliament.

"We now have a lot more confidence to take to the streets to condemn Pope Benedict's policies against condom use, against contraception, against homosexuality," Rachel Evans from the "No Pope" group which challenged the laws.

"We are glad the court has ruled that we do have the freedom of expression to communicate our political views on Saturday."

Evans said "No Pope" protesters welcomed young Catholics in Sydney, but would hand them coathangers to protest against backyard abortions, condoms to promote safe sex, and stickers with gay themes to promote the rights of homosexuals.

The anti-protest laws have acted as a lightning rod for various protest groups which plan to rally on Saturday as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims march to a papal vigil.

The court ruling comes as hundreds of thousands of young Catholics gathered for the opening mass of World Youth Day, the church's largest youth festival aimed at revitalising the church.

Reflecting the religious fervour in Sydney, "Ratzinger Rules" was spray painted on a war memorial overnight. Josef Ratzinger is the birth name of Pope Benedict.

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