Tony R. Doherty, one of the plaintiffs and a resident of Jamaica Plain, said he could not understand the mayor's action and thought it was the result of political pressure.

"For 2000 years, we've lived under a Judeo-Christian ethic," Doherty said. "Everything we've believed in shouldn't change."

C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League, was also present at the hearing and said this law was an overwhelming burden on tax-payers.

Despite city officials' estimates that the law costs $200,000, Doyle said that it actually has the potential to cost up to $8 million.

Doyle said Menino's hasty implementation of the law suggests he does not have the interests of his constituents in mind.

"[Menino] is using tax dollars to reward a powerful special interest," he said.

After hearing both arguments, in court, Judge Charles Grabau said he would issue a decision, but that this case would likely be settled by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Doyle said he agreed the case would continue and he was confident that the views of the League's members would be heard