By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) — A group claiming to represent more than 2,000 pastors across Pennsylvania is calling on Governor Tom Corbett to appeal a federal judge’s ruling last month that effectively legalized same-sex marriages in the state (see related story).

Former state representative Sam Rohrer is president of the American Pastors Network and the Pennsylvania Pastors Network, both based in Elverson, Pa. For him, an appeal of the judge’s ruling is not just about preserving traditional marriage but a matter of defending the rights of states to make law:

“If the federal government comes back and says, ‘We’re going to take away your guns – Second Amendment,’ and eviscerate that, or, ‘We’re going to take away private property rights,’ do you think this legislature or this governor is going to stand up and say, ‘Well, that’s fine, go ahead and do it’? Because if we do, we don’t live in a republic anymore.”

Rohrer and several pastors made their appeal during an event this morning in the state capitol.

In response to Rohrer’s comments, Corbett’s communications director says the governor reached his decision after a careful review of the facts, is confident he made the right decision, and does not plan to reconsider the decision to forego an appeal (see related story).