Anti-Catholic resolution prompts lawsuit

San Francisco, Calif., Apr 4, 2006 / 22:00 pm

A resolution, condemning Catholic moral teaching on homosexuality and urging San Francisco’s archbishop and Catholic Charities to defy Church directives prohibiting gay adoptions, has prompted a federal lawsuit by the Thomas More Law Center.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the resolution March 21.

The lawsuit was brought on behalf of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights and two San Francisco citizens. It challenges the anti-Catholic resolution on the basis of the First and Fourteenth Amendments.

The lawsuit claims that the First Amendment “forbids an official purpose to disapprove of a particular religion, religious beliefs, or of religion in general.”

Robert Muise, the Law Center attorney handling the case, added that the U.S. Constitution “forbids hostility toward any religion.”

“In total disregard for the Constitution, homosexual activists in positions of authority in San Francisco are abusing their authority as government officials and misusing the instruments of government to attack the Catholic Church. This egregious abuse of power is an outrage and a clear violation of the First Amendment,” he said.

The resolution alludes to the Vatican as a foreign country meddling in the affairs of the City and describes the Church’s moral teaching and beliefs as “insulting to all San Franciscans,” “hateful,” “defamatory,” and “absolutely unacceptable.” It also says Cardinal William Levada, the head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is “unqualified” to lead.

This “anti-Catholic resolution sends a clear message to Plaintiffs and others who are faithful adherents to the Catholic faith that they are outsiders … [and] that those who oppose Catholic religious beliefs … are insiders, favored members of the political community,” the lawsuit states.