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Activists have won the right to promote condoms to Catholics at World Youth Day, the Guardian reports.

Young Catholics attending World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney may find themselves swamped with offers of free condoms after legislation giving police the power to arrest anyone who "annoys" pilgrims was overturned by a court.

Activists opposed to the church's stance on contraception and abortion successfully appealed the laws, passed by the New South Wales government.

Members of the NoToPope coalition argued in a federal court challenge on Tuesday that the anti-annoyance regulations, which carry fines of $5,500, were invalid and contrary to civil liberties.

Three judges agreed, saying the measures designed to help police keep order during the six-day festivities "should not be interpreted as conferring powers that are repugnant to fundamental rights and freedoms".

University students Rachel Evans and Amber Pike, who challenged the legislation, said they and other protesters would now hand out condoms, stickers and leaflets to pilgrims. "Symbolic coat-hangers", designed to draw attention to the problem of backyard abortions, would also be distributed.

Evans said protestors wearing T-shirts with slogans such as "The Pope is Wrong – Put a Condom on" and "Pope go Homo" would picket a cross-city march due to be held on Saturday.

A victory for human rights and civil freedoms? Or another attack on an already-vulnerable Catholic church? Should young Catholics be left to practice their beliefs of contraception in peace? Surely it's an individual's choice to get either rubbered up, or up the duff?

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