A Christian legal organization said Saturday it will sue to stop New York from providing benefits to gay couples married legally in other states.

Governor David Paterson recently ordered all state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Paterson said he is simply upholding a decades-old state law that recognizes marriages performed in other jurisdictions.

But the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund says it will file a lawsuit next week claiming, in part, that Paterson is violating the separation of powers.

The group says it is working with New York legislators on the case.

It already has lawsuits pending against the state over earlier attempts to extend marriage rights to gay couples.

A Paterson spokesperson says the governor's order clarifies for state agencies that New York recognizes all legal marriages following a State Supreme Court ruling.