Police stifle protest at Mass for Pope

CARDINAL Bernard Law celebrated Mass for Pope John Paul II in St Peter's Basilica yesterday, ignoring protests that his handling of the sex abuse scandal in the US Catholic Church should disqualify him from the honour.

Police broke up a small but symbolic protest staged by two victims of sex abuse at the hands of American priests, escorting one of them from St Peter's Square as she was preparing to distribute leaflets. 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.

Ms Blaine and another leader of the group took their campaign for reform to the centre of Roman Catholicism, demanding that Vatican officials stop Cardinal Law from celebrating an important Mass mourning Pope John Paul.