Black pastors withhold support for President Obama over same-sex marriage

A coalition of black pastors is calling on other black pastors nationwide to withhold support for President Obama, demanding that the administration reverse its stance on same-sex marriage.

“By embracing gay marriage, President Obama is leading the country down an immoral path,” said Rev. William Owens, president of the 1,300-member Coalition of African-American Pastors. “The Black Church has always been the conscience of America, and today we are calling on black pastors and black Christians to withhold support from President Obama until he corrects course.”

CAAP officials, in a letter to Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder to discuss the issue, said they “pray” for Obama.

“President Obama is the fulfillment of our dream for our sons — and he has broken our hearts by using his power and position to endorse as a civil right something that is simply wrong,” the letter read. “Some things are bigger than the next election.”

The group, which has created a petition on the issue, also called on the African Methodist Episcopal Church to denounce the president's actions.

Meanwhile, the leadership of the AME Church has condemned as false an online report claiming the denomination had already withdrawn support for Obama over his stance on same-sex marriage.

In a statement released Monday, Bishop Samuel Green Sr., president of the Council of Bishops, said the denomination does not endorse candidates for political office. Green also said the denomination is not affiliated with CAAP. The erroneous report was published on Christian news website charismanews.com. On Tuesday, it appeared to have been taken down.

Obama was a featured speaker at the AME Church's 2008 general conference. He was a senator at the time. Last week, Michelle Obama addressed the 2012 conference in Nashville, receiving a standing ovation and enthusiastic cheers from a crowd of about 10,000. After the speech, several attendees said they were not bothered by Obama's recent expression of support for same-sex marriage, although they believe homosexuality is a sin.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.