CINCINNATI, OH (AP)-- A coalition of churches is supporting the state of Michigan's effort to restore a ban on gay marriage.
Legal briefs were filed Wednesday at a federal appeals court in Cincinnati. Michigan is asking the court to overturn a March decision that struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage.
Voters in 2004 defined marriage as between a man and a woman, but a Detroit federal judge said it's unconstitutional.
The state is getting support from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, evangelicals, Lutherans, Mormons, Baptists and a group of black pastors.
Michigan's Catholic bishops say voters "reaffirmed the traditional view of marriage" by limiting it to a man and a woman.
More than 300 same-sex couples were married before the appeals court suspended the decision by Judge Bernard Friedman.