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	Pope Visit 'Marred' by Sex Abuse Protest IOL (South Africa) July 18, 2008 http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=2024&art_id=nw20080718091401246C135606 Sydney - Australian police on Friday moved activists protesting sexual abuse in the Catholic church away from a cathedral where Pope Benedict XVI is staying during World Youth Day celebrations. Seven members of Broken Rites, a support group for victims of abuse by Catholic clergy, said they were told to leave an area of parkland opposite St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney. The pope was about to pray at the opening scene of the "stations of the cross", a re-enactment of the last days of the life of Jesus Christ. "It's really shameful of the church to be doing this, to be moving people on. They're just stopping people from being heard," said protester John Ellis. The protesters, carrying banners reading "Hands off our kids" and "Speak out against abuse", said they were told they had to move away from the cathedral because they did not have a protest permit. Ellis said pilgrims waiting for the start of the re-enactment were mostly supportive, and that some came up and shook hands with the protesters. "There was only one complaint by a woman, who said 'Why are you spoiling our fun?'" he said. A protester from Melbourne, who gave his name only as Michael, said he hoped the pope would apologise for sexual abuse by Catholic clergy while in Australia. "If he does leave without saying anything, without saying sorry, we'll be very hurt," he said. "For a lot of victims it will reopen old wounds about being ignored by the church and having our sexual abuse dismissed." The pope indicated on his way to Australia that he intended to make an apology for sex abuse during his stay, as he did in the United States in April, but this was later thrown into doubt by a Vatican official. World Youth Day, which has attracted around 200 000 pilgrims from around the world, ends on Sunday with a mass led by the pope.
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