Pope draws Catholic Protesters along with pilgrims

On a quiet city block in Toronto, alienated Roman Catholics who followed Pope John Paul to Canada have been airing their grievances with the church.

A woman dressed in priestly garments celebrated Mass. Advocates for victims of clerical sex abuse accused Canadian bishops of cruelty.

Activists planned to hand out condoms to World Youth Day pilgrims.

They have mounted their protest inside a church. However, it is Anglican, not Catholic, and located several miles from the exhibition hall that will host the official event.

Critics see the location as symbolic: William Donohue, president of the Catholic League, a New York-based anti-defamation group, has called the protesters the ‘‘lunatic fringe’’.

But in the brief moments the spotlight falls away from the pontiff, they said they hope to convince young Catholics that loyalty and obedience are two different things.

’’I am critical, I ask questions, but I keep my faith,’’ said Jane Walsh, a 38-year-old Catholic who is among those prodding the church to change.

While World Youth Day organisers distribute Virgin Mary medallions and plastic rosary beads, the protesters are giving away temporary tattoos that say, ‘‘Ordain Catholic Women’’ and buttons that read, ‘‘I’m poped out.’’ Pasted onto the condom wrappers is an angel and the message, ‘‘If abstinence isn’t working for you...’’

Asked about the condom distribution, the Reverend Thomas Rosica, the World Youth Day chief executive, said it was inappropriate, but he also invited the protesters to attend World Youth Day events.

Milton Chan, a 23-year-old college student who said he once served as the head altar boy at his church, has been giving out the contraceptives and said some of the young recipients have dubbed him ’’the condom kid’’.

’’We cannot resolve our differences, but at least they are examining for themselves,’’ he said. ‘‘I really don’t want to see young Catholics following like blind sheep.’’

The 82-year-old pontiff will arrive in the city by helicopter later today for the World Youth Day welcoming party.