Boston (WBZ Newsroom)  -- The debate over gay marriage heats up as some religious leaders draw a theological line in the sand.

Today several religious leaders from a number of faith traditions will call on Catholic bishops in the Commonwealth to stop their campaign against same sex marriage.

United Methodist minister Tiffany Steinwert, of Winthrop, tells WBZ it's not an easy thing for them to do, but she says marriage is a civil ceremony, and church leaders should stop lobbying on the issue.

She says doing so violates the separation of church and state and she and other church leaders will speak out about it today.