Mayor Thomas Menino, recently re-elected to a fourth term as Boston’s top officeholder, is facing strong criticism from an unusual arena: the Catholic community.

Upset with the mayor’s positions regarding sensitive theological issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, Boston Archbishop Sean O’Malley has removed his own name from the guest list of next week’s Catholic Charities fundraiser, at which Menino is scheduled to be the keynote speaker. Since O’Malley’s announcement, a flurry of heated exchanges has taken place between the mayor’s office, the Boston Archdiocese and Catholic activist groups.

Menino, a Catholic, dealt with the ire of the Boston Archdiocese this past summer, when he leveled criticism at church leaders for their decision to shut down the Our Lady of the Presentation school in Brighton two days before scheduled graduation. His support of same-sex marriage and endorsement of condom distribution in schools have also fueled the recent attacks.

In a statement released on Nov. 22, Catholic Charities, the largest social service agency in Massachusetts, announced that O’Malley would not be present at the group’s annual Christmas dinner scheduled for Dec. 9. While praising Menino for his consistent work to alleviate poverty, the statement pointed to his position on same-sex marriage and abortion as the reasons for O’Malley’s absence.

The Boston Globe reported that external Catholic organizations pressured O’Malley and the archdiocese to back out of the fundraiser from external Catholic organizations such as Faithful Voice and the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts. Carolyn McKinley, spokesperson for Faithful Voice, confirmed the report.

“This is a group effort of many people, several of which approached the Archbishop and helped him to become aware of the scandal of any pro-lifer attending the event,” McKinley said.

“The mayor is well aware that his dissent is unacceptable,” she continued. “This is a new vitality of the laity who are demanding the religion we’ve had stolen from us. We intend to take our parishes, institutions, colleges and schools back into the custody of the authentic Church, one by one.”

She also said Faithful Voice was organizing a three-day effort next week to fax the Catholic Charities Board of Directors and all donors listed on the Catholic Charities website who have contributed more than $1,000.

“We will be informing them that all Roman Catholics who adhere to the authentic faith must refrain from attending the honor — that the Archdiocese is still out of compliance with the recent directive of the [U.S. Catholic Council of Bishops] — and forward them our letter to [the Archdiocese],” McKinley said.

Daniel Flatley, President of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts, praised O’Malley’s decision in a statement on the group’s website, calling it “an act of courage, integrity and fidelity to the teachings of the Church.”

“It would be difficult to identify another nominally Catholic political figure in the United States who, on such a broad range of issues, has, in both his rhetoric and public policy decisions, engaged in such relentless opposition to the moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church,” says a statement on the site immediately preceding a summary of such decisions during Menino’s tenure.

According to U.S. Catholic Bishop policy, public officials with political positions contradictory to Catholic teachings are to be denied Church honors or platforms at events. However, not attending the event is not enough, said McKinley.

“The Archbishop’s duty and authority is to ensure Menino is not honored by the institutions subservient to his authority,” she said.

In a recent Globe report, Menino responded to the criticism, calling his detractors “not charitable.”

“These people are Catholic and charitable. Where does this animosity come from?” the mayor asked. “They are not charitable at all. As a Catholic, I am trying to help people and give them hope every day.”

Menino defeated City Councilor Maura Hennigan in a landslide victory last month, winning a fourth term. Should he serve it fully, he would become the longest serving mayor of any in the city’s history.

The Mayor’s office and the Boston Archdiocese did not return repeated calls for comment.