Australian retailers protest restrictions on use of saint's name

October 13, 2010

The president of an Australian federation of small-business owners has asked Pope Benedict XVI to intervene against a government proposal to restrict the commercial use of the name of the country’s first saint.

The Australian government plans to move against business efforts to exploit the name of Blessed Mary MacKillop, who will be canonized on October 17. Scott Driscoll, president of the United Retail Federation, has asked the Pontiff to act against this “extreme” restriction. The intense public interest in the canonization has prompted a rush of marketing efforts tied to the saint's name.

 

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Further information:

• Retailers ask Pope to intervene about restrictions on MacKillop name (CathNews)
• Australia to restrict commercial use of Bl. Mary MacKillop's name (CWN, 10/11)