Protesting without police clearance could result in demonstrators being charged under extraordinary new powers which came into effect yesterday. The sweeping nature of the regulations is threatening to create a legal and political minefield with protesters apparently willing to test both the scope of the laws and the willingness of the authorities to uphold them.

Chris MacIsaac, the president of the victims' group Broken Rites, said his organisation was warned of the sweeping new powers during a police briefing. "It will anger a lot of people who are very frustrated as they can't get anywhere with the church and now they are losing the right to get out there and tell the world," he said. __________

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Other protesters said they would defy the regulations, and risk a $5500 fine. "We will protect our civil liberties, and help young people to protect their health, and no Pope or premier will stop us," said Rachel Evans, a spokeswoman for the NoToPope coalition, which is planning to hand out condoms at a July 19 rally. An online retailer is selling T-shirts that may "cause annoyance" to pilgrims. "$5500 - a small price to pay for annoying Catholics," reads one. "Good luck, Pope. I've been waiting for a miracle at Randwick for years," says another.

The NSW Police Commissioner, Andrew Scipione, said the new laws were no different from existing police powers for sporting venues. But in a written statement, police refused to rule out prohibiting T-shirts or condom hand-outs. "Anyone engaging in behaviour so as to prevent people from across the world participating in the event, or impacting on their ability to participate, will need to be dealt with," the statement said. The president of the NSW Bar Association, Anna Katzmann, said the regulations were far less defined than other "annoyance or inconvenience" legislation.

In the Mount Panorama Motor Racing Act and the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Act, people must be "disorderly or insulting" before they can be removed. Talkback radio, online forums and the Herald's letters page were flooded with criticism of the new rules. "That we have had our right to protest effectively snuffed out is a mockery to those of us who have been harmed by the Catholic Church," wrote Stephen Kilkeary, who said he, his siblings and his late mother suffered "horrendous abuse at the hands of the Catholic clergy".

Police have begun arranging meetings with a range of possible protesters and pranksters, from anti-homophobia and pro-contraception activists, to victims of abuse, and even comedians from The Chaser. The Opposition Leader, Barry O'Farrell, said the Government should reveal who requested the regulations.

The Catholic Church said "neither the Catholic Church nor Cardinal Pell asked for the additional police powers", adding "we understand some people may want to protest and they have the right to do so peacefully and lawfully". The Minister for World Youth Day, Kristina Keneally, said the Government framed the laws on advice from police and after consulting the church. She stressed they were not drafted at the behest of Cardinal George Pell.