What do you think of when you read the headline “Homosexual activists in positions of authority?” Perhaps you think of those wonderful “activist judges” you hear so much about. Or you merely cheer, as I do. Not the right-wing California Catholic Daily, the paper that loves to hate homos.

The newspaper recently used the headline to incite its readers to continue to hate homos. Why? Because in 2006, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, at the urging of openly gay Supervisor Tom Ammiano, unanimously passed a resolution condemning the Vatican for once again reiterating its unreasonable and bigoted position against gay adoptions.

The resolution uses what some Catholics object to as strong language. It accuses the church of being “hateful” as well as “callous and insensitive.” As Bette Davis once said, “But you are Blanche!”

It also urges the local Archdiocese to ignore the church’s official directive against queers adopting kids. In response, the Thomas More Law Center sued the City on behalf of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, saying that the resolution violated their First Amendment rights because it was hostile to their religion.

Of course they lost in court. Judge Marilyn Hall Patel rightly ruled that the resolution was merely the exercise of free speech by public officials. Which makes sense since the statement has no power of law. It didn’t outlaw Catholicism or force the Church to redistribute all of the wealth it stole from indigenous peoples over the centuries. Or make reparations for the millions it slaughtered in the name of its deity.

It merely put the Board of Supervisors on record against the Church’s discriminatory policy. Which makes sense considering San Francisco has a non-discrimination policy based on sexual orientation, as well as race, sex, gender identity, age, ability, etc.

Catholics are appealing the decision. Richard Thompson of the Law Center described Judge Hall Patel’s ruling as demonstrating hostility towards the church. Maybe she’s an activist judge.

Robert Muise of the Law Center, who last week made oral arguments in front of a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of the Church, told the California Catholic Daily: “In total disregard for the Constitution, homosexual activists in positions of authority in San Francisco have abused their authority as government officials and misused the instruments of the government to attack the Catholic Church. Their egregious abuse of power now has the backing of a lower federal court.”

The suit was ridiculous to begin with. Now it’s becoming absurd. How much tax money is being wasted on court time to hear such a frivolous matter?

Maybe the Court of Appeals should install a laugh track.

Tommi Avicolli Mecca was raised catholic but thankfully now is a radical southern Italian atheist queer with a webpage: www.avicollimecca.com