Protesters rally against pope's visit to Spain

Thousands of activists rallied Thursday in Barcelona against a weekend visit by Pope Benedict XVI to Spain, attacking the Church on multiple fronts including child sexual abuse by priests.

"Jo no t'espero" ("I'm not waiting for you" in Catalan) declared banners carried by a crowd of more than 2,000 people in the Sant-Jaume Square in the historic part of this Mediterranean port city.

"Children welcome, priests flee," said one placard carried by a child, referring to the child sexual abuse scandals that have rocked the Roman Catholic Church worldwide but largely spared Spain.

"I am here because this is a secular state and I want to defend it," said one activist, Nuria Barrachina, a 34-year-old office worker who was there with her husband.

"I don't like priests," added 62-year-old Sebastian Carbajal. READ MORE

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