The bishops said the true definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman “cannot change, though we realize that our beliefs about the nature of marriage will continue to be ridiculed, and that some will even now attempt to enact government sanctions against churches and religious organizations that preach these timeless truths.”

But in a separate statement, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn said both Republicans and Democrats had “succumbed to powerful political elites” with their votes, and Cuomo had “opened a new front in the culture wars that are tearing at the fabric of our nation.”

He directed Catholic schools in his diocese “to refuse any distinction or honours” bestowed by Cuomo or by any legislator that voted for same-sex marriage and told pastors and principals “not to invite any state legislator to speak or be present at any parish or school celebration.”

DiMarzio said the request was intended “as a protest of the corrupt political process in New York state.”

“More than half of all New Yorkers oppose this legislation,” he said. “Yet the governor and the state Legislature have demonized people of faith, whether they be Muslims, Jews or Christians, and identified them as bigots and prejudiced” if they opposed changing the fundamental definition of marriage, he added.

A last-minute amendment to the legislation exempts any clergy members who decline to perform same-sex weddings and protects any employee “being managed, directed or supervised by or in conjunction with a religious corporation, benevolent order or a not-for-profit corporation.”

It also says failure to provide same-sex ceremonies would not “result in any state or local government action to penalize, withhold benefits or discriminate against such religious corporation, benevolent order, a not-for-profit corporation operated, supervised or controlled by a religious corporation.”