Pope Benedict recently declared that gay marriage was a threat to “the future of humanity itself,” and Rick Santorum told a group of school kids and residents in New Hampshire that kids were better off having a father in prison than growing up with same-sex parents. Three of the kids in the audience were from gay households. What a Santorum.

Not only was that a rotten thing to say: it was wrong. LivesScience’s Stephanie Pappas reports “that research on families headed by gays and lesbians doesn't back up these dire assertions,” and in fact research has shown that kids raised by same-sex couples show few differences in achievement, mental health and other areas. Moreover they might have an advantage of “open-mindedness, tolerance and role models for more equitable relationships, according to some research.” Which we interpret as “less likely to grow up to be a Santorum.” We need more of that.

Add to this the plus that same-sex couples are more likely to adopt older, special needs and minority children who are tougher to place. Pappas reports that may be in part because of their preferences and in part because adoption agencies may put these children with “less desirable” parents.

Less desirable? Not so fast. Another plus for same-sex parents is that they may well be more motivated because they chose to be parents and are seldom parents by accident like half –half!– of heterosexual parents.

So, Santorum doesn’t know what he’s talking about, kids (surprise). As for the Benedict’s “future of humanity,” thing, two words: drama queen.