Contact: Peggy Birchfield, Faith and Action, 202-546-8329, ext 103

WASHINGTON, May 15 /Christian Newswire/ -- In response to the 4 – 3 ruling today on marriage by the justices of the California Supreme Court, the Reverend Rob Schenck (pronounced SHANK), president of the conservative National Clergy Council and its affiliate, Faith and Action, released this statement:

"Today's ruling by the California Supreme Court ordering the state to legalize a man marrying a man and woman marrying a woman demonstrates the need for religious conservatives to pay close attention to state supreme court judges, especially during election campaigns. California citizens can take bad judges off the bench by voting no when their names appear on the ballot. Other states use different means for electing or retaining supreme court judges. Citizens must get directly involved in choosing who will sit on their highest state courts."

Schenck's organization, Faith and Action, sponsors a program called The State-by-State Initiative that is aimed at influencing the judicial philosophies of state supreme court judges and justices.

Schenck is available for further comment. Contact Peggy Birchfield of Faith and Action at 202-546-8329, extension 103.