Pope Benedict XVI will apologize to the general Australian public for the Catholic Church's history of child abuse during his trip to the country.
Abuse victims plan to rally during the visit and authorities in the state of South Wales introduced laws to protect pilgrims. Civil liberties unions denounced such measures as "repugnant." Others are rallying against the Church's stance on homosexuality.
The Pope said that pedophilia is "incompatible" with being a priest. This is largely in response to Australian Cardinal George Pell's coming under fire for his handling of a 1982 abuse case.
Pope Benedict XVI will also apologize to Australian aborigines for injustices by Catholic missionaries. He is then expected to speak about climate change and will preside over an open-air mass.
© C Harris Lynn, 2008
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