Roman Catholic Bishop Richard Malone says he's "deeply disappointed" that Mainers voted to legalize gay marriage.The Catholic Church didn't play an active role in the referendum debate, focusing instead on education.
But Malone did issue a statement saying Catholics who support same-sex marriage are "unfaithful to Catholic doctrine."
Maine and Maryland on Tuesday 6th. became the first states to adopt same-sex marriage by popular vote.
Malone, now administrator of the Maine diocese after being appointed bishop of the Buffalo, N.Y., diocese, said the definition of marriage between a man and a woman has been understood "for millennia by civilizations and religions around the world."
He said the Catholic Church remains committed to advancing basic human rights while remaining devoted "to preserving and strengthening the precious gift of marriage."