Washington -- Some pro-family advocates are disappointed that President Bush did not say he endorsed an amendment that would define marriage as only between a man and a woman during his State of the Union speech on Jan. 20, according to the Baptist Press.

Near the end of his speech, the president did say that the United States "must value the institution of marriage." He said that even though the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act "declares that one state my not redefine marriage for other states," activist judges have "begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives." If that continues, he said, the "only alternative left would be the constititutional process."

Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, said the president's comments were good and that pro-marriage social conservatives "should be grateful" to have a president who so strongly shares their beliefs. But Land also agreed the Bush could have gone further and "come out foursquare in support of a federal marriage amendment that would enshrine marriage in the United States as only between a man and a woman."

Land said that he and millions of other social conservatives will hope and pray that the president does endorse a federal marriage amendment soon.

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said that the time for Bush to protect the institution of marriage is now, since the Masssachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently ruled that a ban on same-sex marriage violated the state constitution.

"The families of America have consistently supported the president on both his foreign and domestic politics," Perkins said. "They have stood with him in his efforts of homeland security, and now they want the president to focus on the security of the American home by protecting the institution of marriage."

Some other pro-family leaders supported Bush's comments without expressing disappointment.

Charles Colson, founder of Prison Fellowship, applauded the president, saying Bush "made a strong plea for the sanctity of marriage, directly confronting judicial activism -- the first time I've heard a president do that." He added that the issue "is shaping up as the Armageddon of the culture wars. And the president is taking the lead."

Focus on the Family chairman James Dobson said he was encouraged by Bush's support of the sanctity of marriage.

Before his speech, the president had said he believed marriage should be only between a man and a woman and that he would endorse an amendment to that effect.