Catholics, Mormons defend backing same-sex marriage ban

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints insisted Thursday that their support for a proposition to ban same-sex marriage in California did not target any group.

An LAPD officer holds back a line of protesters Thursday on Wilshire Boulevard.

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"Proposition 8 is not against any group in our society. Its sole focus is on preserving God's plan for people living upon this earth throughout time," Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles, said in a statement Thursday.
"The Catholic Church understands that there are people who choose to live together in relationships other than traditional marriage. All of their spiritual, pastoral and civil rights should be respected, together with their membership in the Church," Mahony said.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, carried out a vigorous campaign to get the proposition passed. Many Mormons traveled to California and