DES MOINES - Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said Tuesday he opposes gay marriage but is reluctant to amend the state constitution to overrule an Iowa Supreme Court decision that paved the way for same-sex unions.

Culver had said little about Friday's unanimous ruling, but in a lengthy statement released Tuesday the governor said he hadn't changed his mind that marriage is between a man and a woman.

''This is a tenet of my personal faith,'' Culver said.

However, Culver said the issue before the court involved only civil marriage, which he said is separate from religious marriage that occurs in places of worship.

''The court also concluded that the denial of this right constitutes discrimination,'' Culver said. ''Therefore, after careful consideration and a thorough reading of the court's decision, I am reluctant to support amending the Iowa Constitution to add a provision that our Supreme Court has said is unlawful and discriminatory.''

Key Democratic legislative leaders have ruled out efforts to start the process of amending the constitution, and Culver's position likely ends that debate for all practical purposes. Social conservatives have been clamoring for the amendment.

The court ruling means same-sex couples can get married in Iowa as soon as April 30 after a series of waiting periods are completed.

In his statement Culver conceded that ''the issue of same-gender civil marriage is one that evokes strongly held beliefs and strong emotions both for and against.''

But as governor, Culver said he must respect the authority of the Iowa Supreme Court and uphold the state constitution.

He said the court decision doesn't force churches to do anything.

''The Supreme Court's decision does not require that churches recognize marriages between persons of the same gender or officiate over such unions,'' Culver said. ''Our churches and places of worship are free to decide for themselves, as they were before, who may enter the sacred covenant of marriage.''

Culver urged both sides in the emotional debate ''to exhibit respect and good will'' and said he would focus his attention elsewhere.

''We are in the midst of a serious economic recession,'' said Culver, pointing to rising unemployment and last summer's record flooding. ''That is where, I believe, my focus and energies should lie.''

Culver made his statement hours after a Republican candidate for governor, Bob Vander Plaats, criticized the governor for not being more clear about where he stood on the gay marriage ruling.

''There's an old saying that silence is golden, but it doesn't apply when people need to know where their elected officials stand,'' said Vander Plaats, a Sioux City businessman.

Iowa doesn't have residency requirements for marriage licenses, so same-sex couples from elsewhere could come to Iowa to be married. Vander Plaats said at the least, lawmakers should put residency requirements in place to head off such visits.

''It is wrong to allow people whose states do not allow same-sex marriages to rush into Iowa, get a quickie marriage and rush home to undermine the laws and values of another state,'' he said.

Senate Minority Leader Paul McKinley criticized Culver after the governor released his statement.

McKinley, R-Chariton, said Culver had broken an earlier promise to oppose gay marriage.

''Gov. Culver has chosen to stand with seven elite justices and deny the 3 million people of Iowa the right to vote on this significant issue,'' McKinley said in a statement. ''This marriage flip-flop is just the latest example of Gov. Culver not providing the leadership that every Iowan deserves.''