With a Mormon being the only alternative to the incumbent president, who supports homosexual "marriage," some black clergy feel there is no real choice for them this presidential race. But one pastor still encourages them to vote.
Though Rev. William Owens of The Coalition of African-American Pastors (CAAP) does not agree with Mormon theology, especially the church's past teachings on blacks, he does not discourage people from voting this coming Election Day, because he knows the price people paid for blacks to vote.
"People died. They were beaten. They were punished. They were fired off of their jobs. It was a tragic situation," he recognizes. "So, the price that blacks paid that we could vote -- I'd never tell people not to vote, nor do I tell them how to vote. I give them my position and tell them to decide how they should vote."
In 2008, Barack Obama won 95 percent of black voters. An Associated Press report points out that any loss of votes could tip the election to Mitt Romney in a close race.
Owens asserts that the president's position on same-sex "marriage" is very important to the CAAP, because it is contrary to biblical teaching.
"I take it that most people are very intelligent. If we give our position, and if our case is strong enough, I think that does it all," the reverend suggests. "What we're going to do in the future, we don't know. But at this point, we don't endorse anybody. But I do think it's unfair to hold Mr. Romney's theology and the church he's a member of against him."
The coalition is still collecting petition signatures supporting marriage to present to President Obama, asking him to reconsider his position on the issue.