Ruth Fremson/

The New York Times

ALBANY — Timothy M. Dolan, the Roman Catholic archbishop of New York, who has been a low-key presence during the debate over same-sex marriage in the state, called in to a capital radio talk show Friday morning to warn that the proposed legislation posed an “ominous threat” to society.

Archbishop Dolan, who was in Seattle to preside over a meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, said that Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of Brooklyn had been dispatched from Seattle to Albany in a last-ditch effort to influence the Senate Republican majority, which will determine the fate of the proposed same-sex marriage bill.

The bill was proposed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo and approved by the Democratic-controlled Assembly, and now the Senate must decide whether and how to vote on the measure as the clock ticks toward the scheduled end of the legislative session Monday.

Archbishop Dolan, speaking on Fredric U. Dicker’s radio program on WGDJ-AM (1300), repeatedly made it clear that he strongly opposed gay marriage, which he called “unjust and immoral,” “detrimental for the common good” and “a violation of what we consider the natural law that’s embedded in every man and woman.”

Acknowledging that supporters of same-sex marriage need just one more vote to prevail in the Senate, Archbishop Dolan said that “we are still working for the defeat of this bill,” but that “we’re realistic to know the forces pushing this are very strong, they’re well oiled, they’re well financed.” However, he said: “It’s not a done deal. There is a good chance that this is not going to pass this year.”

Archbishop Dolan was dismissive of efforts to protect religious organizations from being affected by the legislation, which he called “a couple bones to the dog.” He argued that the rights of churches are already guaranteed by the Constitution, and that as for any additional protections drafted in Albany, “we worry that, what the government gives, the government can take away.”

“We just don’t want this definitive religious freedom to be at the mercy of some government whim,” he said.

Archbishop Dolan argued that the passage of same-sex marriage in other states and countries had at times led to problems for clergy and religious organizations who remained in opposition. “You’ve got couples now in England who are now told they can’t adopt children because they’re not open to same-sex marriage,” he said.

Archbishop Dolan also rued what he called “the presumptive omnipotence of the state” in considering allowing gays to marry, and decried a “new religion of secularism that feels it’s going to come to a theocracy and impose its values on society.”

Asked about polls showing growing public support for same-sex marriage, Archbishop Dolan said he didn’t entirely trust the research methods, because, he said, “our opponents have been very glib in redefining the question.”

But, he said, “they do cause us some concern,” and “we have to convince again even those within our own household.”

Asked by Mr. Dicker why the Catholic Church doesn’t excommunicate or otherwise punish Catholic elected officials who support same-sex marriage, Archbishop Dolan acknowledged that that is a controversial issue among bishops, but he said, “We try to model ourselves after Jesus, and he’s always conciliatory.”

“Sometimes, if we come off too hard, we lose more people,” he said. “Our job is to try to patiently change hearts, and not be throwing people out.”

As the concerns of religious leaders seemed to play an increasing role in the Senate debate over same-sex marriage, gay rights advocates released a statement from clergy who say the bill would not harm religious organizations.

“We recognize and respect that not all faiths support marriage equality, and agree that it is appropriate that the proposed marriage equality legislation provides broad protection for religious freedom,” said the statement, which was signed by a number of prominent rabbis and mainline Protestant leaders. “Sadly, however, there are some among us who are using religion as a smokescreen to hide their intolerance, choosing to misstate the plain language of the bill and falsely claiming that it fails to protect religious practice. Nothing could be further from the truth: the governor’s bill specifically provides that no clergy, house of worship or denomination would be forced to perform same-sex marriages or make their facilities available to same-sex couples for marriage ceremonies, receptions or other functions.”

Also Friday, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York used his weekly radio interview on WOR-AM (710) to reiterate his support for same-sex marriage, and to call on lawmakers to vote on the issue.

“They should stand up and be on record, whether they vote the way I would like them to or not,” Mr. Bloomberg said on his weekly radio program on Friday morning. “Democracy, I think, is best served by elected officials explicitly saying what they stand for and why.”

Mr. Bloomberg, addressing concerns of religious leaders, said: “I happen to think very strongly that this is not a religious thing. Religious organizations should have every right to decide who they want to marry, whether they want to permit alcohol. Religions do a lot of different things. This is the government, and the government should be separate from religion.”

Javier C. Hernandez contributed reporting.