Thirty years ago, there would have been little outcry.The judges may even succeed in permitting irony to get a toehold. Last month’s ruling by the Berlin transport authorities, banning the I am the People posters, was finally overturned – by the judges’ command.. Evreux – At least 8,000 people protested yesterday against the Vatican’s sacking of the liberal French bishop Jacques Gaillot, 59, as he bade farewell in Evreux with an emotional last Mass. “No to the Vatican diktat”, “Pope John Paul, you’re out of touch – resign”, read banners carried by the crowds packed into the narrow streets outside the Gothic cathedral to urge Mgr Gaillot’s reinstatement as bishop of the Norman town.
About 2,000 people crammed into the cathedral while others, some from Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg, braved rain and strong winds to listen over loudspeakers to the last Evreux Mass by the “Red Cleric”.Police estimated the crowds, in which a few people wept, at 8,000 to 10,000 while organisers said 30,000 protested at the Vatican sacking of the Bishop on 13 January Protests were held elsewhere in France.

He had upset the Vatican with liberal views on issues such as birth control and workers’ rights.He defied Vatican doctrine by urging the use of condoms against Aids, speaking in favour of allowing priests to marry, and calling for greater tolerance of homosexuality. “This is the day of greatest joy for me as bishop since I started here in 1982,” Mgr Gaillot said from the pulpit to a congregation including four bishops. “That time, the cathedral was not full.”Mobbed like a pop star on his way to the Mass by chanting crowds, he vowed in a sermon to continue his work for the poor. He also called for reconciliation and was repeatedly interrupted by applause.”The Church should be for people shut out of society, not for shutting people out,” he said. “Christ experienced that path in his flesh – the path of abandonment, of unjust condemnation and of exclusion.”The bishop angered successive governments by urging tougher action for the poor, unemployed and homeless.Some bishops have urged a meeting of all the country’s bishops to find a new role for him, fearing a further drift from Catholicism.Anne-Claire Hautdidier, 11, from Grenoble, promised some long-term hope. She struggled under the weight of a banner proclaiming: “When I’m Pope, I’ll reinstate you Jacques.”.

Cadbury Schweppes, the confectionery and soft drinks group, is expected to announce this week the agreed takeover of Dr Pepper, the Dallas-based drinks company The deal is likely to be funded by a £400m rights issue. Although Cadbury had no comment to make yesterday, sources close to the company indicate that an informal agreement has been reached between Dominic Cadbury, chairman and Pepper’s chief executive, John Albers.
Dr Pepper, which merged with Seven-Up in 1988 and has about 8 per cent of the US soft drinks market, has been a long-term target of Mr Cadbury. Pepper is the third-largest player in the $48bn US market behind Coca-Cola and Pepsi.Sources on Wall Street say that Mr Cadbury has been able to overcome the opposition of John Albers, who himself owns 3 per cent of the company, and that the deal will value Pepper at about £1.5bn.Cadbury may well be forced to make a statement by the Stock Exchange today on the deal.The proposed takeover will dramatically strengthen its position in the American soft drinks market, the biggest in the world. The British company already owns a quarter of Pepper, but has consistently been refused a seat on the board.Cadbury said last year that it could pay for acquisitions of up to half-a-billion pounds without making a cash call on shareholders.

According to sources it will probably raise about £400m through a rights issue to help finance the acquisition of Pepper.Pepper’s share price on Wall Street rose $1.30 to $29.50 on Friday in expectation of the deal being struck. Analysts estimate Pepper’s shares would be worth up to $35 in a buyout. Cadbury’s own shares stood at 401p on Friday, valuing the company at £3.3bn.According to an investment banker quoted in Business Week magazine, a successful takeover would probably be followed by Cadbury selling off the Seven-Up operation, which accounts for 30 per cent of Dr Pepper’s estimated 1994 income of $765m.The likely buyer is Triarc, which owns Royal Crown Cola, and whose chairman and chief executive is American entrepreneur Nelson Peltz.Pepper would benefit from the Cadbury takeover by gaining access to Cadbury’s global expertise and financial resources. Pepper wants to expand internationally but only 1 per cent of its current sales are outside the US.Pepper mainly makes soft drink concentrates that it sells to independent bottlers.