DENVER -- A group of 45 clergy has formed a coalition to press for legalizing homosexual marriage and to fight a Colorado congresswoman's bill that would define marriage as a union between men and women only.

The Denver Post reported that Colorado Clergy for Equality in Marriage was formed "to highlight the ongoing and unjust discrimination against gay and lesbian persons in state marriage laws."

The Rev. Phil Campbell, the group's founder and senior minister at Park Hill Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in Denver, said clergy should have a voice in the issue, since they traditionally preside over marriage ceremonies.

According to the news report, the group has three goals:

To build support within their religious communities for marriage rights for same-sex couples; to support and work for legislation that would establish those rights and extend legal and civil protection to homosexual couples; and to work against "legislation that would codify discrimination in marriage."

In 2000, Gov. Bill Owens signed into law a measure barring homosexual marriage in Colorado.

Recently, Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., championed the "Defense of Marriage" act, which would amend the U.S. Constitution to bar homosexual marriage.

The coalition drew criticism from evangelical Christians.

"Essentially, what these religious leaders are proposing challenges the very core and tenets of their own faith traditions -- that God created males and females as the two parts of humanity that are complementary and serve as the foundation of marriage and family life," said Glenn Stanton, senior analyst of marriage and sexuality issues at Focus on the Family.