Its not actually World Youth Day

For a start, its not a Day - it goes from 15th to 20th July. And its not really about the Youth of the World either - its about the Catholic Church and the Pope. This is what the WYD website says "Organised by the Catholic Church, WYD brings together young people from around the globe to celebrate and learn about their faith on a more regular basis." Now I hope I'm not being too cynical here but I cant help wondering why they deliberately - and it could only have been deliberately - left the word Catholic out of the title to this so called "Youth Event". Their PR guys obviously decided it would be better not to mention the Catholic Church and dress it up as something for everyone. But seriously what non catholic youth - or any non catholic for that matter- is going to be lining up for these events, the first three events listed under "Youth Festival" on their website:

• Adoration in St Mary's Cathedral Crypt, hosted by WYD08
• Prayer with relics of St Gemma Galgani, St Gabriel of the Sorrowful Virgin and St Maria Goretti, presented by the Passionists
• Liturgy of the Hours, hosted by Sisters of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict

Mind you if those dont appeal theres always the "Papal Boat-a-Cade" on the 17th and the "Evening Vigil with the Pope" at Randwick Racecourse - "sleep out under the stars" - on the 19th.This stuff is really only for the seriously hard core catholic, a once-in-a-lifetime church-fest, an orgy of religious ritual,worship,prayer, adoration and devotion. But to describe it otherwise and ignore the elephant in the room, the Catholic Church, and pretend its really for everyone is a cheap PR trick that might be the real reason so many people are cranky with the whole thing.

Yes, theres a whole lot of people out there getting all steamed up about WYD.Theyre arguing about how much its all going to cost taxpayers, and about how inconvenient its going to be to have the Harbour Bridge closed for 12 hours and train timetables all rearranged. Theyre saying its just a big fund raiser for an outdated superstition peddling, idol worshipping global oppressor of the poor. Theyre arguing about such things as the Catholic Churches relationship to Nazi Germany, to paedophiles in the Church and the Popes views on abortion and condom use in Africa, on the way women and gays are treated and about its massive wealth.

It gets messy. But no one could deny that much that is good has also come from the Church and many of its members are wonderful caring human beings. Should we deny them their right to practice their religion as they see fit? And the Pope, revered by millions of Australians is a bona-fide Head of State - shouldnt we welcome him?

One last thing : its been worked out that the NSW Catholic dominated government - and no, I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I just wanted to point that out - will spend around $100 million supporting this thing. However the number crunchers have worked out that the Pilgrims are going to spend anywhere from $150 million to $230 million in NSW, creating a nett benefit to the local economy. From a rather worldly and pragmatic perspective then, maybe we should just let them get on with it?

The odd thing is though, that if Jesus knew about this unholy alliance between Politicians, Entrepreneurs and the Church I'm pretty sure he'd be against it. Remember how he threw the Money Changers out of the Temple?
15 And they came to Jerusalem. And Jesus went into the temple,and began to cast out those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who sold doves.
16 And He would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17 And He taught, saying unto them, "Is it not written, `My house shall be called for all nations the house of prayer'? But ye have made it a den of thieves." Mark 11