(CBS/AP) The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has overwhelmingly approved a statement opposing the legalization of gay marriage.

The vote by the bishops - who together represent the leadership of the Roman Catholic church in the United States - was 234 in favor of the policy statement, 3 opposed, with 3 abstentions.

The statement, written in plain language meant to be a guide to ordinary Catholics on the teachings of the Church, is timed to counteract recent successes in the campaign to give gay couples the right to commit themselves to their partners, with the same legal and economic benefits now enjoyed by married couples.

The bishops' statement says marriage can only be between men and women, marriage is the only relationship that is proper for sexual relations, and marriage must be always open to procreation.

"Between Man and Woman: Questions and Answers About Marriage and Same-Sex Unions" goes on to say that opposition to gay marriage is not discrimination against gays because same-sex unions and marriage "are essentially different realities."

Explaining why they do not believe their position is discriminatory, the bishops say: "To uphold God's intent for marriage, in which sexual relations have their proper and exclusive place, is not to offend the dignity of homosexual persons. Christians must give witness to the whole moral truth, and oppose as immoral both homosexual acts and unjust discrimination against homosexual persons."

"Truths about marriage are present in the order of nature and can be perceived by the light of human reason," say the bishops. "They have been confirmed by divine Revelation in Sacred Scripture."

The bishops' statement, while expected, was nonetheless greeted with disappointment by gay rights activists.

The interfaith gay advocacy group Soulforce - which has stood vigil outside the bishops' conferences for the past four years - calls the statement against gay marriage "confusing, harmful and spiritually violent."

Said a group spokeswoman, Laura Montgomery Rutt: "When will the Catholic Church learn that this kind of spiritual violence leads to great pain, suffering and even death?"

In September, the bishops' conference gave its general support to amending the Constitution to define marriage as a union of a man and woman. And last summer, Pope John Paul II spoke out against gay marriage.

Savannah, Ga., Bishop J. Kevin Boland, who led the committee that drafted Wednesday's statement by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, says the bishops had to act at this time.

"Marriage is in crisis and will be further devalued and eroded unless we're strong in pointing out that same-sex unions are not the equivalent of marriage," says Boland.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is preparing to rule on a request to legalize same-sex marriage.

Vermont allows civil unions between gays, and laws in California and Hawaii extend some economic benefits to same-sex couples. Two Canadian provinces recently legalized gay marriage.

Last summer, gay rights groups scored a major victory when the Supreme Court struck down bans on gay sex. Last week, voters in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, approved a proposal allowing same-sex couples - and also unmarried heterosexual couples - to officially register as domestic partners.

While courts will not have to recognize those couples, supporters hope the measure will make it easier for them to share some benefits.

Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the bishops' conference, acknowledged that some may question how Catholic leaders can make statements on sexual morality following nearly two years of scandal over priests who molested children.

But he said the church must speak out "in season and out of season."

"Yes, the church is human, but she must run by the passion and the prophetic office given her by Christ," Gregory said.

Before winding up the conference Wednesday - a day early - the bishops took up several issues.

It was decided that a committee will draft a document aimed at teaching Catholics about the church's ban on artificial contraception. Surveys have found Catholics use artificial contraception at the same rate as non-Catholics.

A committee of bishops also presented a document to be used in dioceses for certifying that a priest from outside the United States is suitable for ministry.

The authors said conducting background checks on foreign-born priests was difficult, and the document would help ensure that sexually abusive clergy are not transferred between U.S. dioceses. About 16 percent of the nation's 46,000 priests are from other countries, the bishops said.

The prelates also revised instructions for Sunday services in parishes that have no priest. The changes include language emphasizing that holding the celebration without a clergyman should not be the norm. About 3,000 of the 19,000 U.S. parishes do not have a resident priest, according to Georgetown University researchers.

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