Thousands protest at TV show which accused John Paul II of covering up abuse

Poles took to the streets to protest at a TV show which accused Pope John Paul II of covering up child sex abuse (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Thousands of Poles joined marches on Sunday in defence of the late pope, St John Paul II, following a TV documentary that alleged he covered up child sex abuse involving clergy in his native Poland before his election as pontiff.

The marches, which took place in Warsaw and other cities on the 18th anniversary of John Paul’s death, were organised by an anti-abortion group under the slogan: “You awakened us, we will defend you.”