Stanislaus residents react to California Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling

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In favor of the ruling

'The court has finally said what we have known in our hearts, that it is unconstitutional to deny my partner, Cynthia, and I the right to marry each other'

-- Beth Holden, Stanislaus County chapter leader, Marriage Equality USA

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'What we're asking for is no more than what our straight counterparts want'

-- Cynthia Soto, partner of Beth Holden

'There's a lot of people with a lot of strong emotions, but my contention is that if you're not in favor of same-sex marriage, you shouldn't have one'

-- Marian Martino of Modesto, who popped the question to her partner of 28 years minutes after she heard about the court ruling

'For most people, nothing is going to change'

-- Keith Highiet, president of the Stanislaus PRIDE Center

'I haven't yet read the ruling, but anytime a society moves in widening the scope of civil rights to more people, I think it's highly likely to be a good thing' -- Rabbi Art Gould, Congregation Beth Shalom

'I know the church can get into doctrine and dogma, but for me, love is the core of the Gospel. I don't see how love can ever be a negative thing.'

-- Pastor Erin Mattos, Modesto Church of the Brethren

Opposed to the ruling

'Of course, I'm highly objected to (the ruling). All the religions agree about rejecting this kind of action (homosexuality and gay marriage). In my opinion, the people doing that are rejecting God's destiny or rules of man of the continuity of the generation. It's considered to be a sin in Islam.'

-- Ahmad Kayello, imam, Islamic Center of Modesto

'Clearly it's against a biblical understanding of marriage. Our laws don't reflect God's standard for us and God's definition of marriage. It will be interesting to see if our state will decide (in November) to uphold a biblical definition -- do we believe in what God says or do we make up a new definition?'

-- Pastor Mark Krieger, Modesto Covenant Church

'California voters spoke loud and clear that they believe marriage is between a man and a woman. This disappointing ruling gives activist judges a louder voice than the people of this great state.'

-- Dave Cogdill, R-Modesto, state Senate Republican leader

'The California Supreme Court sought to demolish the very foundation of our government as "of the people, by the people and for the people." The justices who voted for this horrific ruling should be summarily impeached.'

-- Pastor Aubrey McGann, Valley Bible Fellowship

'When God's laws are broken, there are always consequences. I base that on Romans 1:19-23. And there is a Web site, www.lovewonout.com, which is a ministry to homosexuals to bring healing and deliverance in their life.'

-- Pastor Archie LeVias Jr., Seed of Joy Church

'Although we strongly disagree with the ruling, we ask our Catholic people, as well as all the people of California, to continue to uphold the dignity of every person, to acknowledge individual rights and responsibilities, and to maintain support for the unique and irreplaceable role of traditional marriage as an institution which is fundamental to society'

-- California Catholic bishops' statement