Christian conservative Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council (FRC), on Thursday warned that God will lift His protective hand from the U.S. as a result of gay and lesbian couples marrying.

On his Washington Watch radio program, Perkins agreed with a caller who said that the Supreme Court's ruling striking down gay marriage bans in all 50 states has weakened “the hedge of protection coming across us.”

“Absolutely, absolutely,” Perkins replied.

Perkins told the caller that the United States put itself in a similar “vulnerable position” in “1973, when the court basically said it's open season on the unborn. There were consequences to that and I believe it's a part of removing God's hand of protection upon a nation.”

Earlier this month, Perkins claimed that the marriages of gay couples will lead to a surge in prison population.