Rhode Island legislators could vote on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in a matter of weeks.

Supporters and opponents packed the statehouse Tuesday as a committee heard hours of testimony.

Rhode Island already allows civil unions. It is the only state in New England that does not allow gay couples to wed.

The state's Gov. Lincoln Chafee and Treasurer Gina Raimondo both spoke out in favor of gay marriage at the hearing.

Roman Catholic leaders are opposing it on religious and practical grounds.

"We are here to defend and support the longstanding definition of marriage... as the exclusive and lasting relationship of a man and a woman," Rev. Bernard Healey said. 

He also told lawmakers that the Providence diocese is concerned Roman Catholic schools and charitable organizations could be forced to change their employee benefit policies if compelled to recognize the same-sex spouses of employees.

Others warned that allowing gay marriage would erode social norms.

"Just because these states in New England have decided to redefine marriage doesn't mean we should follow them down this path," Michael Krzywonos, from Pawtucket, said.

"The polygamists will be next in line. Then we'll begin to test the boundaries of what age is permissible," he warned.

Previous efforts to pass gay marriage in Rhode Island have failed.