Rick Santorum on Thursday won the endorsement of Focus on the Family founder James Dobson, media watchdog RightWingWatch.org reported.

In endorsing Santorum for the GOP presidential nomination, Dobson, who now hosts the radio show Family Talk, said he hopes Santorum can stop marriage equality.

"The institution of the family is the key issue facing this great nation,” Dobson said in a statement. “It is the foundation, the bedrock, upon which every dimension of Western Civilization rests. If it is undermined or weakened by cultural and governmental forces, the entire superstructure will collapse in short order. And indeed, today it is in serious jeopardy. The very definition of marriage is threatened, which has implications for the next generation and the stability of society itself.”

The 53-year-old Santorum last month said he objects to gay marriage because it would “destabilize the family.” And he argued against allowing gay couples to adopt children, saying that adoption should be for parents “who don't want to raise their children,” not a system that says, “We are going to deliberately deny a child” a mother or a father.

Santorum said he was “truly honored” to receive Dobson's endorsement.