A peaceful but emotionally charged rally with speakers representing conservative groups and churches drew an estimated 360 people to a pro-Proposition 8 rally Saturday in Auburn.

Prop. 8 opponent made a smaller, silent showing outside the rally, holding signs reading “Let Me Marry” and “No on 8.”

Supporters want a state constitutional amendment that would limit marriage to a man and a woman. On the Nov. 4 ballot, the proposed amendment would overturn a California Supreme Court decision last May that legalized same-sex marriage.

Lynn Wardle, a law professor at Brigham Young University, drew applause when he told the audience on the lawn of the Auburn Library Garden Amphitheater that children deserve the love of both a father and a mother.

“We didn’t ask for this challenge but we can’t step away from it,” he said, before introducing four members of the American River College student council now facing a recall for voting to support Prop. 8.

Doug Bird, pastor of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, spoke about his attempts to reverse a state decision to erase the words “husband” and “wife” off marriage documents and replace them with “Party A” and “Party B.” His daughter and her husband were the couple that filed suit with the assistance of the Pacific Justice Institute to have the original terminology re-instated.

“This is not a communist nation yet, is it?” Bird asked.

In the parking lot outside the amphitheater, a group of four women opposed to Prop. 8 kept a silent vigil as the rally took place.

Casey Fulmer, an Auburn resident and Equality California member, said that organizers had shown kindness to them before the rally and only one negative comment was heard.

The rally came two days after a third state court legalized same-sex marriage, bringing Connecticut onto controversial legal ground already occupied by California and Massachusetts.

It also comes in a week where Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leadership made a televised appeal to Mormons in California, Utah, Hawaii and Idaho to step up efforts to pass Prop. 8.

Fulmer said that she feels the state has a role to play “to protect all people equally.”

“The state can’t dictate what a church does,” Fulmer said. “And a church can’t dictate what the state does on civil rights and marriage.”

The Journal’s Gus Thomson can be reached at gust@goldcountrymedia.com or comment at Auburnjournal.com.