By Elizabeth Flock

The Coalition of African-American Pastors (CAAP) has an almighty bone to pick with President Barack Obama.

The Tenneesee-based clergy group is calling on black pastors from around the country to join them in rejecting the president for his stance on same-sex marriage.

“We were once proud of President Obama, but our pride has turned to shame,” Rev. William Owens, president of CAAP, said in a press release E-mailed to Whispers. “The man holding the most powerful position in the world is stooping to lead the country down an immoral path.”

CAAP, which has more than 1,300 members and believes in “traditional family values,” has asked for a meeting with the president to try to change his mind, but the White House has yet to acknowledge the request. In May, Rev. Owens issued a statement that castigated Obama for comparing the gay rights movement to the African-American civil rights movement.

“The hijacking of the civil rights movement by homosexuals, bisexuals and gender-confused people is unacceptable. There is no legitimate comparison between skin color and sexual behavior,” he said.

The CAAP has also launched a petition calling for a return to traditional marriage at 100000signatures4marriage.com. The group says more than 4,000 signatures have been received.

According to recent polls, black Americans are split on same-sex marriage. A Pew Research Center poll found that 37 percent of Black Americans support same-sex marriage, compared to 47 percent of whites.

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Elizabeth Flock is a staff writer for U.S. News & World Report. You can contact her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter and Facebook.