President Obama threw a big shin-dig for Pope Francis and the guest list caused all sorts of controversy.

A gaggle of gay activists were invited to scarf down cocktail weenies at the White House — along with an openly gay Episcopal bishop and some pro-abortion Catholics. Catholic Online accused the president of setting up an LGBT ambush.

“President Obama has stacked the deck against Pope Francis by allowing the inviting of an ‘A list’ of infamous American Catholics to meet the Holy Father when he arrives in the United States,” they wrote. “The move, intended to make a political statement, is being perceived as rude and challenging, but there’s little doubt Pope Francis will handle the moment well.”

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Vatican took issue with some of those invited. That’s a diplomatic way of saying — what the heck is wrong with you people?

A senior Vatican official told the WSJ that the Holy See feared any photos of the pope with the controversial guests could be interpreted as an endorsement of their activities.

Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee is not too happy with the party planners over at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. He called them the most anti-Christian administration in American history.

“When you invite the head of the Catholic Church — the pope — you should treat him as an honored guest,” Huckabee told me. “It is not a time to embarrass him by inviting people who have been very outspoken in their criticism of the Church.”

Huckabee said it was very “poor form” on the part of the White House.

“It’s like hosting a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous and setting up an open bar or it’s like inviting the prime minister of India — who is a Hindu — and serving ribeye steak,” he said. “There are some things you just don’t do. It’s called manners.”

Other critics wonder if President Obama is trying to send a passive aggressive message to Roman Catholics.

“Is there no end to the lengths the president will go in order to push his sinful agenda,” renowned evangelical leader Franklin Graham wrote on Facebook. “This is disgraceful and obviously inappropriate.”

Now, the way I see it, the president is free to invite whomever he wants to the White House.

Just a few weeks ago they had the King of Saudi Arabia drop by for a howdy-do.

I wonder how many Muslim feminists and LGBT activists were invited to that get-together?

Todd Starnes is host of Fox News & Commentary, heard on hundreds of radio stations. His latest book is God Less America: Real Stories From the Front Lines of the Attack on Traditional Values. Follow Todd on Twitter@ToddStarnes and find him on Facebook.