sex marriage became legal in Washington on Monday, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum was meeting with opponents of the law.

Speaking at Calvary Chapel in Olympia, the former Pennsylvania senator promised about 100 pastors and so-called "values voters" that he would work to repeal marriage equality in the state.

"We have a serious issue about trying to get moms and dads to marry and stay together," Santorum explained. "I don’t see this as encouraging that. I think that at least from my perspective it tends to water down marriage instead of encouraging men and women to form healthy marriages, and that to me should be the objective of the government because that is in the best interests of our society."

The candidate also spoke out about a recent U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that overturned the same sex marriage ban in California.

"It’s pretty intolerant to suggest that people have no rational reason to be in favor of this institution that has been the bulwark of society for 235 years," Santorum said, adding that both sides needed to "be respectful."