Church and State !

The founding fathers were wise to legislate to keep church and state separate. It is therefore puzzling why premier Morris Iemma's government passed a law to protect the Catholic Church from criticism during World Youth Day.

During World Youth Day - which is really World Youth Week because if occurs from July 15 to 20 -it will be illegal to say anything, display anything or wear anything that might " annoy " the church or it's followers.

This " anti annoyance law " is not specific as to what constitutes " an annoyance " , but presumably it means anything that is the subject of complaint from the church or attendees. Those that fail to comply face a fine of up to $ 5,500.

The Catholic church should not be above criticism. It has a dismal history of shielding paedophile priests and it's ban on contraception is condemned by those fighting HIV/Aids in third world countries.

Critics who plan to hand out free condoms to WYD attendees and anybody who demonstrates against church policy will find that for the period of this convention their right of freedom of speech has been cancelled.

Urgent action is under way to legally challenge this legislation. The main problem is that - unlike America - Australia does not have a Bill of Rights. As a consequence, we do not have the automatic right to freedom of speech. What we have is - what the government allows us - and this debacle to protect a church from valid criticism illustrates how tenuous our hold is on the civil liberties we take for granted.

In the months and years ahead we will be examining the prospect of abandoning the monarchy and moving to being a republic. As part of that deliberation it is essential that the separation of church and state remain - and that due consideration be given to framing a bill of rights to protect our freedom.

At least this sudden and infamous use of the law will be a call to arms !