SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The Mormon church says it regrets a protest by dozens of dissident members trying to quit the church because of its campaign in California against gay marriages.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement Saturday saying it was defending the "traditional family" by pushing for a California ballot initiative that seeks to preempt legalized same-gender marriages.

Church spokesman Dale Bills said written demands by gay members and others to be removed from church membership roles will be referred to local bishops and stake leaders for a decision.

The dissidents say the church crossed a line by asking its 740,000 California members to "do all you can" to assure passage of the initiative.

"We regret that any member would ask to have his or her name removed from our records because the church has joined a coalition in California to oppose same-gender marriage," the church said Saturday from its headquarters in Salt Lake City.

"In the face of organized efforts to redefine marriage, the church has no doctrinal choice but defend the traditional family," the statement said.

Also Saturday, Bills sought to clarify how the church contacted California members for their support.

Bishops and stake leaders read a church letter to the 740,000 California members in congregations, but the church did not mail letters to each member as some news reports have suggested, Bills said.

The appeal asks members "to do all you can by donating your means and time to assure a successful vote" on California's March 2000 ballot measure.

Saturday's church statement also quoted President Gordon B. Hinckley saying, "Our hearts reach out to those who struggle with feelings of affinity for the same gender. We remember you before the Lord, we sympathize with you, we regard you as our brothers and sisters. However, we cannot condone immoral practices on your part anymore than we can condone immoral practices on the part of others."

Gay activists say several dozen dissidents have requested their names be removed from the Mormon church's membership rolls and that dozens more are likely to follow.

Dave Ensign of Boulder, Colo., traveled Friday to Salt Lake City to present his demand, saying he was outraged the church was "working to control state policy on secular marriage."

Ensign was joined by a handful of other church members at a news conference at the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Utah.

The Mormon church also campaigned for bans on same-gender marriages in Alaska and Hawaii last year, where members raised $1.1 million for the successful petitions.

The church's California involvement was the "last straw" for many people who are tired of "apologizing for being a Mormon," said Kathy J. Worthington, an organizer for the dropout campaign.

Among those seeking to withdraw are inactive members who say their formal notice is mostly symbolic.

"Normal procedure is to refer such requests to local ecclesiastical leaders for action," said Bills, referring to bishops and stake leaders.