Gay Marriage Got Icy Reception in Hopatcong

President Barack Obama may have made history by, but the subject got a chilly reception in Hopatcong when Patch checked in earlier this year.

Mayor Sylvia Petillo told Patch in February she hoped Gov. Chris Christie would veto a New Jersey bill to allow same-sex marriage (she hoped instead the matter would go to a public vote, as Christie advocated). The governor indeed shot the bill down.

And several Hopatcong religious leaders, however, said they wouldn't even want to see it on the ballot.

"I don't have any issue with someone who is gay," Pastor Ken Adams of said at the time. "[But] I know gay marriage is contradictory to the word of God. I'm told to preach and teach the word of God. So it's difficult for me to think that I could be able to support something that contradicts the word of God."

Wednesday, after Obama's announcement, some locals questioned his motives.

"He needs to be re-elected in November." Tony Abbondolo wrote on Hopatcong Patch's Facebook Wall. "He did NOT do it bc of morals.... If so? Why did he wait 3.5 years into a 4 year term to awaken with this epiphany?"

Reader Mark Lewis said on the Facebook wall that he thinks it's "because North Carolina just passed [an] amendment [barring gay marriage]."

But he added, with some sarcastic tone: "Also Obama is insane. Whats next? Supporting a woman's right to vote? Coming out against gang rape? I will not stand for this."

What do you think? Should gay marriage be legal? .