Police Stymie Vatican Protest Over Law

[cyberpj]

Police Stymie Vatican Protest Over Law

Apr 11, 10:52 AM (ET)
By RACHEL ZOLL

VATICAN CITY (AP) - A small but symbolic protest by victims of sex abuse at the hands of American clergy was stymied Monday when police escorted one of the organizers off St. Peter's Square before she could distribute fliers.

Several uniformed officers walked Barbara Blaine, founder of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, behind barricades set up at the entrance to the square. The officers did not explain why they escorted Blaine off the piazza, and she had no immediate comment.

Blaine and another leader of the group brought their campaign for reform to the center of Roman Catholicism, demanding that Vatican officials bar Cardinal Bernard Law from celebrating an important Mass mourning Pope John Paul II.

They arrived in Rome just hours before Monday's service at St. Peter's Basilica and condemned what they called the Vatican's "hurtful decision" to choose Law for the honor.


http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050411/D89D8U700.html