Sydney - Gay and lesbian Catholics will demonstrate against Pope Benedict XVI when he visits Sydney next month for the World Youth Day celebrations, an advocacy group said Monday. The NoToPope Coalition said it hoped to organize 15,000 people to protest the "homophobic and antiquated ideas" of the pontiff, who will be on his first visit to Australia.
The protesters plan to distribute condoms as they march to the racecourse venue where the pope will hold a Mass for up to 500,000 pilgrims.
"He has said same-sex marriage, abortion and birth control are threats to world peace, yet without birth control and condoms we have a situation in South Africa with up to 1,000 people dying every day from AIDS," coalition spokeswoman Rachel Evans told Australia's AAP news agency. "We think the Catholic youth will be very interested in what we have to say."
Police permission for the march has been sought.
"We are going to save some lives and stop someone getting STI (sexually transmitted infections) by handing out condoms," Evans said. "It will be a very fun event as well, a lot of performances. We are looking at hopefully 10,000 to 15,000 involved, but it's very difficult to say at this stage."
Pope Benedict will be in Australia July 13-21.
