A representative of a foreign government tried to influence Californians in their vote on a state constitutional amendment to limit marriage to one man and one woman, telling the American voters they should follow the example of Europe, according to a new report.

The Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, a group that works to impact the social policy debate at the United Nations, said a coalition of 33 American organizations already has filed a formal complaint with the German government over the apparent interference in a domestic election.

The groups are charging that German foreign ministry and justice officials were promoting same-sex marriage in the U.S. The California initiative, Proposition 8, was approved by voters 52 percent to 48 percent.

"German Federal Minister of Justice Brigitte Zypries campaigned recently in California to urge voters to follow the lead of Germany and the rest of Europe in promoting 'same sex marriage' by defeating Proposition 8," the U.N. monitor group said.