In San Francisco, where the court challenge began after Mayor Gavin Newsom declared same-sex marriage legal for several days in 2004, the Catholic Archdiocese — headed by Archbishop George Niederauer, who was formerly Bishop of Utah — released its own statement on the court's decision.

Quoting the gospel of Matthew about a man and a woman becoming one flesh, the statement said, "At a moment in our society when we need to reinforce the strength of marriage and family this decision of the Supreme Court takes California in the opposite direction.

"This action challenges those in society who believe in the importance of the traditional understanding of marriage to deepen their witness to the unique and essential role that marriage between a man and a woman has in the life of society."

The press release also reiterated a former statement by the Catholic Bishops of California:

"Catholic teaching maintains that marriage is a faithful, exclusive and lifelong union between one man and one woman joined in an intimate partnership of life and love-a union instituted by God for the mutual fulfillment of the husband and wife as well as for the procreation and education of children."

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