Black Pastors: "We Reject Obama On Gay Marriage. We Reject Romney On Mormonism. There's No Good Choice, So Black Voters Should Stay Home On Election Day"

Rev. A.R. Bernard ain't feeling either candidate

From the Associated Press: "Some black clergy see no good presidential choice between a Mormon candidate and one who supports gay marriage, so they are telling their flocks to stay home on Election Day. That’s a worrisome message for the nation’s first African-American president, who can’t afford to lose any voters from his base during a tight race. The pastors say their congregants are asking how a true Christian could back same-sex marriage, as President Barack Obama did in May. As for Republican Mitt Romney, the first Mormon nominee from a major party, congregants are questioning the theology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its former ban on men of African descent in the priesthood."

The article continues: "'When President Obama made the public statement on gay marriage, I think it put a question in our minds as to what direction he’s taking the nation,' said the Rev. A.R. Bernard, founder of the predominantly African-American Christian Cultural Center in New York. Bernard, whose endorsement is much sought after in New York and beyond, voted for Obama in 2008. He said he’s unsure how he’ll vote this year."

More: "Last Easter Sunday, a month before Obama’s gay marriage announcement, the Rev. Jamal-Harrison Bryant of Baltimore formed the Empowerment Network, a national coalition of about 30 denominations working to register congregants and provide them with background on health care, the economy, education and other policy issues. Yet, Bryant last month told The Washington Informer, an African-American newsweekly, 'This is the first time in black church history that I’m aware of that black pastors have encouraged their parishioners not to vote.' Bryant, who opposes gay marriage, said the president’s position on marriage is 'at the heart' of the problem."

The article continues about the disgruntled pastors: "The Rev. George Nelson Jr., senior pastor of Grace Fellowship Baptist Church in Brenham, Texas, participated in a conference call with other African-American pastors the day after Obama’s announcement during which the ministers resolved to oppose gay marriage. Nelson said Obama’s statement had caused a 'storm' in the African-American community. Still, he said 'I would never vote for a man like Romney,' because Nelson has been taught in the Southern Baptist Convention that Mormonism is a cult. As recently as the 2008 Republican primaries, the SBC’s Baptist Press ran articles calling the LDS church a cult. This year, however, prominent Southern Baptists have discouraged use of the term when addressing theological differences with Mormonism. Many Southern Baptist leaders have emphasized there are no religious obstacles to voting for a Mormon. Nelson planned to vote and has told others to do the same. He declined to say which candidate he would support."