NoToPope Coalition takes Mardi Gras route to meet Pilgrims
PRESS RELEASE 27th June 2008
NoToPope Coalition will rally at Taylor Square 12 noon on Saturday July 19th and march down Flinders St, to Moore Park where peaceful protesters will hand out condoms to Catholic youth.
Rachel Evans from the Coalition said "The NoToPope Coalition thinks its appropriate to take the Mardi Gras route to meet with the Pilgrims. Pope Benedict's homophobic and antiquated ideas are profound. He has said same-sex marriage, abortion, and birth control are threats to world peace", exclaimed Evans. "Yet, without birth control and condoms we now have a situation in South Africa with 600-1000 people dying every day from AIDS. Currently, more South Africans go to a funeral than the hairdressers. These high HIV transmission rates are in large part caused by the Pope's anti-condom policy."
Kristian Bolwell, spokeperson for the Coalition said "The Pope's relentless anti-gay doctrinal approach has seen him declare gay men and lesbians as moral threats to society. He campaigns to repeal same-sex marriage in countries who have adopted it and has banned gay priests. Should we welcome this bigoted man to Australia?
Luke Roberts another spokeperson noted "Pope Benedict continues to adhere to the 1968 Humanae Vitae document which describes contraception as "evil". Benedict also considers homosexuality an intrinsic evil. He is out of touch with the real world."
Anthony Englund, said Australian's should not be paying the Pope's way. "New figures suggest Australian tax-payers will pay in access of $180 million for the Papel visit when the Catholic Church is the third largest land owner in the world. When public transport, health and public education is crying out for funding - what are our governments doing?"
The NoToPope Coalition is comprised of Community Action Against Homophobia (CAAH), Facebook group 'Atheists Are Hot', Facebook group 'Stop World Youth Day', International Raëlian Movement, Norrie May Welby, Metropolitan Community Church , NSW Humanists, PopeAliceXorporation (PAX), Resistance, Socialist Alliance, Sydney Atheists, Sudanese Human Rights Association, The Secular Party, UNSW Atheists Society
The Coalition will hold an information session at 12 noon, Monday June 30th at Taylor Square, Oxford St in Darlinghurst. The Coalition will unveil further events in the lead up to World Youth Day (WYD).
Rachel Evans 0403 798 420, Anthony Englund 0412 039 860, Luke Roberts 0400 195 203, Kristian Bolwell 0411 638 320
