"I think what the Vermont Supreme Court did last week was in some ways worse than terrorism," Bauer told reporters at his New Hampshire campaign headquarters.

Bauer praised federal authorities in Vermont for arresting a women allegedly linked to a terrorist group, saying, "I think we all celebrate anytime terrorism is thwarted."

But the religious activist said he strongly disagreed with the Dec. 20 Vermont Supreme Court ruling that the state must grant the same protection to gay couples as it does to married couples.

Bauer called the decision another example of "a judicial decision that attacks America's deeply held values," and said he was disappointed his Republican rivals have not spoken up.

Accusing the other Republican contenders for the nomination of surrendering their party's conservative agenda, he urged Texas Gov. George W. Bush and publisher Steve Forbes "to find their voices on these issues."

Forbes, however, has spoken out.

"It was a flagrant example of judicial activism. I believe in traditional marriage. The court overstepped its bounds. This, if anything, is a matter for the people to decide, not judges," Forbes said the day of the decision.

During a campaign trip to Vermont in October, Bush said he opposed legalizing gay marriage no matter what the court ruled. "My opinion is we should not have same-gender marriage," he said. "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman."

Spokesmen for Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, also said their candidates objected to the Vermont high court ruling.

A Canadian woman and a male Algerian companion were arrested Dec. 19 at a border crossing in Vermont. The woman, Lucia Garafalo, has been allegedly linked by federal authorities to what they describe as a terrorist group operating in Europe and Algeria.