Faith

Obama Does Damage Control Among Christian Pastors Following Gay Marriage Endorsement

Obama Doing Damage Control Among Pastors on Gay Marriage Front

Image Credit: Newsweek

President Barack Obama’s “evolution” on the gay marriage front started in 1996 when he endorsed same-sex marriage and ended in 2012 when he, once again, stated his support for gay unions. The circular move, though, has some faith leaders up in arms, leading to the Obama campaign’s need to reassure these individuals, while pledging to protect religious freedom.

Last week, The Blaze reported about Obama’s faith adviser, the Rev. Joel Hunter, and his opposition to the recent pro-gay marriage announcement. Now, The New York Times reports that the president is in full-out damage control, as he attempts to explain his reasoning to Christian leaders who have serious ideological and theological disagreement with him regarding the Biblical definition of marriage.

(Related: Newsweek Cover Declares Obama ‘The First Gay President’)

Watch Hunter describe his conversation with Obama, below:

Hunter, in particular, has voiced his discontent and has said that Obama’s views on marriage will make it harder for him to support the president. This comes even after the president pledged to protect the religious liberties of churches that wish not to marry gay couples. But Hunter isn‘t alone in his confusion and angst surrounding Obama’s endorsement.

Just two hours (around 4:30 p.m. ET) after the president made his not-so-new-found views known on gay marriage, he held a conference call with around eight African American pastors. The pastors — most of whom had been supportive of Obama’s electoral prospects in the past — were so thrown off by his stance that they told him they may need to reconsider their support for his re-election campaign.

In the end, most them did, indeed, agree to “work aggressively” to help him — but not everyone.

Obama Doing Damage Control Among Pastors on Gay Marriage Front

“They were wrestling with their ability to get over his theological position,” the Rev. Delman Coates, pastor of Mt. Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, Maryland, told the Times. “Gay marriage is contrary to their understanding of Scripture. There are people who are really wrestling with this.”

Coates, despite citing discontent among some of the pastors on the call, does believe that most of the pastors included will come around and look past Obama’s views on the issue.

“It was very clear to me that he had arrived at this conclusion after much reflection, introspection and dialogue with family and staff and close friends,” he said. “There are more public policy issues that we agree upon than this issue of private morality in which there’s some difference.”

Black churches have traditionally been opposed to same sex marriage. Following Obama’s announcement, the community has been bustling with discussion. While most have been opposed to the president’s views, a minority of African American leaders support gay unions. The USA Today has more about his this could impact the election:

The conflicted sentiments within African-American churches reflect a broader struggle in the American public. A USA TODAY Poll showed that slightly more than half of Americans agreed with the president’s decision. A scientifically valid breakdown of African Americans was not available, but past polls have shown blacks generally opposed to gay marriage.

African Americans are a key voting bloc for the president this November. In 2008, exit polls showed Obama lost to John McCain among white voters but won more than 95% of the African-American vote.

Some African American pastors are even telling their congregants to stay home this November:

As The Blaze noted last week, the nation is intensely divided over the legalities of gay marriage. While 50 percent claim they think it should be legal, 48 percent believe that same-sex unions should not be permissible. Among those who attend church regularly, 67 percent believe that gay marriage should be illegal. These proportions come from a Gallup study that was released last week. Thus, Obama’s announcement is a political wager of sorts, as the nation’s division could help — or harm — his level of electoral success come November.

Obama Doing Damage Control Among Pastors on Gay Marriage Front

Additionally, the president is coming off of a major gridlock surrounding religious liberty and the controversial contraceptive mandate. Despite his pledge to respect church rights, his track record is likely to make some people nervous — specifically when it comes to handling whether churches are forced to comply same-sex marriage.

“Some of the faith communities are going to be afraid that this is an attack against religious liberty,” Hunter claims he told the president while discussing his newfound views. Obama, of course, reassured him that this will not be an issue.

Even Jim Wallis, the liberal pastor who runs Sojourners, reiterated the need for the president to speak with more right-leaning churches who may disagree with his stance.

“We hope the president will reach out to people who disagree with him on this,” he said. “The more conservative churches need to know, need to be reassured that their religious liberty is going to be respected here.”

While these pleas are certainly understandable, so is doubt surrounding Obama’s promise to protect churches. Not long ago, the president claimed that conscience would be respected. Now, the Catholic Church is lamenting a birth control mandate that religious leaders call an overt attack on their freedoms.

(H/T: New York Times)

Comments (172)

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  • SquidVetOhio
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:29am

    That poll is bogus. If 50% of Americans believe gay marriage should be legal, why does it keep getting banned in every state it’s voted on? (Including liberal states like CA, WA) I believe at last count, we were up to 23 states voting to ban it and the votes have not even been close. I would love to hear what the poll question actually was.

    Bogus.

    Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • fastfacts1
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 10:00am

      The African American Christian Leadership is turning on Obama and the media is mis-reporting it. The MSM claims this will have low to no effect on the black vote.

      Sorry, the MSM is wrong again. Even black leaders are turning again Obama and are open at saying it to the public as well as their black congregations. Check it out here: http://www.thedailycandidate.com/video/2012/may/black_leaders_obama.html

      Report Post »  
    • deeberj
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 10:39am

      Right, the USA Today poll. I also call it bogus.

      Report Post » deeberj  
    • deeberj
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 10:45am

      32 states

      Report Post » deeberj  
    • Arfmoogle
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 10:51am

      It is 31 states now. And in addition, so many people who are petrified of speaking out publicly about this (for fear of being tarred and feathered by their colleagues) vote against it because they know it is flat wrong. They may even come out of the voting booth saying they voted for homosexual marriage because they want to keep getting invited to the cocktail parties.
      And if you study a country like the Netherlands where homosexuality is accepted and legalized, the homosexuals STILL have all the problems they do anywhere else–like depression, drug and alcohol abuse, STDs, etc. It is not the straight world that cause the problems. It is because they are doing what is not right.

      Report Post » Arfmoogle  
    • FormerLib
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:09am

      “Gay marriage is contrary to their understanding of Scripture. ”
      What scripture is it not contrary to?

      Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:29am

      Like any other poll, you can make it say whatever you would like it to say. Like the economy, you can make numbers say whatever you want them to say.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • drattastic
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 12:00pm

      Dear leader always wanting to have it both ways. Blacks will vote for obama at 95% no matter what he does ,because in their minds race trumps everything.

      Report Post » drattastic  
    • turkey13
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 12:27pm

      Would someone please ask Obama to recite Book, Chapter and Verse. Maybe he could also explain why Muslims that come out of the closet and say “Hey I’m Qu eer get stoned to death!

      Report Post »  
    • cosette
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 3:06pm

      I will be hugely surprised if this presidential stamp of approval on “gay” marriage will cause any blacks to abandon their Messiah. I don’t believe there is any error he could make that would cause them to defect. I was once told by a black “Christian” co worker that she is “black first”. When I replied “oh really, I am a child of God first” she clucked her tongue and walked away. I am speaking about a woman who spent her break time reading the Bible and proclaiming her faith. I know this story is anecdotal and not applicable to all black Christians, but they are fiercely loyal to their race. A quality I wish white people would emulate.

      Report Post »  
    • cosette
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 3:10pm

      What’s up with the halo? Are we to believe that it’s “saintly” to approve of what the scriptures refer to as an “abomination”? Unbelievable!

      Report Post »  
    • Sargint Rock
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 4:01pm

      Exactly! The press has been running a Psyops operation against the people ever since Obummer came on the scene, trying to enhance his power thru Yellow Journalism and outright lies!

      Report Post » Sargint Rock  
    • gsp9993
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 7:48pm

      Bogus for sure.

      The right question to ask would be

      Would you favor an openly gay couple with children moving next door to you?

      80% would say HELL NO.

      Report Post »  
    • Amos37
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:01pm

      Why don’t the pastures just come out of the closet and tell the world what this guy really is? He’s a demon.

      Report Post »  
    • muffythetuffy
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:19pm

      The Great satan should know that God destroyed the homosexual cities of Sodom and Gomorrah using his atomic explosives. That is example for satan Obama isn’t it?

      Report Post »  
    • muffythetuffy
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:21pm

      I do not know how anyone can stand that smell of sulfur that is around Obama everywhere he goes?

      Report Post »  
    • blackyb
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 10:00pm

      You are right. Even gays who are in the lifestyle know it is wrong.

      Report Post » blackyb  
    • Matt
      Posted on May 30, 2012 at 11:54am

      Yeah I am really dissapointed that the blaze is misreporting this. I have been thinking now for a while that Beck needs to fire whoever is running the Blaze.

      They misreport things
      they are starting to have more graphic content
      they have the annoying links to tabloid crap at the bottom of each article
      they have tabloidesque content for one in 5 articles now.

      I am tempted to think that whoever runs the blaze is secretly working against beck to destroy him because this is the opposite direction the blaze should be going in. It needs to be a beacon for truth!! Screw what might bring in the MOST traffic. You dont want the MOST traffic you want the highest quality traffic. The blaze is a tool to educate real patriots, its not Beck’s primary revenue generator. plus, if you give up your principles for money……whats the point in anything?

      Report Post »  
  • lynnissmart
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:28am

    What a surprise?

    Report Post »  
  • zoro51
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:27am

    nothing this damn SOCIALIST says is truth,.. IMPEACH OBAMA NOW

    Report Post » zoro51  
  • 4truth2all
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:23am

    Any pastor who is “with” this guy is already compromised …

    Report Post »  
    • sndrman
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:44am

      these pastors are 1st looking at color then again at color and did i mention color? oh yea then these “black pastors are looking at the big fat d at the end of his name……what % of black people vote r? so this guy can now penetrate their(the supporting pastors) churches…..what did his O’Kenyanism say “we’re not a Christian nation” wonder if these pastors took those remarks in making their decission……A FULL ATTACK ON RELIGION. now he can divide people on religion to…….each piece of the puzzle that make AMERICA great is being removed……..

      Report Post »  
    • TH30PH1LUS
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 2:05pm

      @ 4truth2all

      totally agree. Any “minister” who stands with the pro-abortion baby-killing pro-homosexual Communist also stands in direct opposition to the God of the Bible. There is no middle ground.

      Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
  • doomytram
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:21am

    Oblamer and his damage control are out campaigning again. Lying about his lies and eating his crow for votes….. His base is the far radical left. The right is growing and Obamunist are shrinking.

    Too bad the Obamunist won’t accept defeat.. he is going to fake an assasination lock create a lock down and cancel the elections… His is the disastrous dictator who loves to eat french fried potaters and chili dogs while on the campaign trail…. The incredible shrinking Left, Pa-thet-ic!

    Report Post » doomytram  
  • OneTermPresident
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:21am

    The parishioners know whats right. 32 states and counting.

    Report Post » OneTermPresident  
  • pwatkins
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:19am

    Voters need to decide who does the real flip-flopping. If I was Michele Obama(terrible thought only for a second) I would be furious about the Times cover stating my husband was the first gay president. It makes her look so stupid….of course being married to Barack period says the same about her.

    Report Post »  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:33am

      Maybe someone ought to do a Crocodile Dundie ‘equipment check’ on Michele. Maybe the girls are adopted…………….

      Report Post » Rational Man  
    • GO-FOR-LIBERTY
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 3:09pm

      The marriage? was for looks only.

      Report Post »  
  • Free2speakRN
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:17am

    This is exactly why, if Religious Freedom goes for the Catholic Church, the rest of Christianity will be dominoes.

    Report Post »  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:17am

    evil and GOOD cannot be “damage controlled”. They do not mix, as we have learned by letting evil have its way for at least forty years (40 years in the wilderness, anyone?).

    There is NO “damage control” with DIVINE. It is utter repentance and turning from our evil ways to GOD’S GOOD or nothing. The only hope we have is in JESUS CHRIST, folks. Nothing else counts. Nothing else matters. HE WILL TAKE CARE of bidness!

    Report Post »  
    • brntout
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:27am

      I was waiting for the rainbow hula hoop to fall down over his ears and start spinning with his bobble head a bobbing.

      Report Post »  
    • Tim Law
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:50am

      These so called Christian leaders may want to read the book of John again and seek guidance from the Holy Spirit while doing so.
      43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
      The Holy Bible : King James Version. John 12:43

      Report Post »  
  • 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:15am

    Some black Churches are black first and are apostate or not churches at all. Seems they have no fear of God but great fear of Obama.

    Report Post » 70S_KIDS_FIGHTING_SOCIALISM  
  • convictobama
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:13am

    This is an incredible act of truth by newsweek. The president is gay, ask Larry Sinclair and three murdered congregational members of Rev Wrights church. All three gay men were suspected to have been with Obama, were murdered execution style right before he announced he was running. Do your internet research you will see.
    I am religious but dont give a damn about him being gay. Its murder, being a traitor and selling us out that bothers me.
    Someone please explain why there is a book by Larry sinclair and no lawsit to stop it? IT must be true…Obama is a liar and more like Clinton on Prozac.

    Report Post »  
  • TEARS FOR AMERICA
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:13am

    These “pastors”, like Jeremiah Wright, have a form of religion but do they really know the heart of Jesus Christ? Jesus is the Word and the Word does not conflict Truth. How can you justify voting for a man who is in rebellion with that Word, how can you choose death over life? There is no life from a homosexual, no procreation that God designed for humanity except through manipulation-how is that Truth?

    Report Post » TEARS FOR AMERICA  
  • PingPongPing
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:13am

    give the devil an inch and he will take a MILE!

    down a slippery path we shall go… whoo wheee!

    Report Post » PingPongPing  
  • RightUnite
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:12am

    Oh gee!! Surprise, surprise! Another liberal shill. You’re either for or against it, there’s no middle ground! This idiot actually believes Obama gives a flying crap about the poor!! The only thing Obama is concerned about the poor is.. Are they going to vote for me?? He would throw them under the bus in a flash, but this idiot pastor is too stupid to figure it out!

    Report Post »  
  • brntout
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:11am

    When making that decision,you don”t evolve, you devolve.

    Report Post »  
  • Mandors
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:03am

    2012 Referendum on gay marriage? Bring it on.

    Report Post » Mandors  
  • bobbyjoe
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:01am

    Just compromise on this one little thing and everything else I (Obama) do is good……. got to say NO soon or you won’t have any choice later

    Report Post » bobbyjoe  
  • Constructionist
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:01am

    I understand that my position is in direct opposition to biblical teachings; however, I am banking on the color of my skin outweighing the importance of your stance on morality. Focus people, I need campaign cash.

    Report Post » Constructionist  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:28am

      Spoken like a true ‘Affirmative Action’ president. Counting on his skin color to mean more to people of faith than their religious convictions and what God thinks about it. It might just work in Obama’s favor if you look at how many black and white “Christians” voted for him last time inspite of his stance on abortion. I believe alot of people will some day wish they had voted with God instead voting for Obama.

      Report Post » Rational Man  
    • team1blazer
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:31pm

      Perfectly stated! Any “pastor” who accepts Obama’s lies, is a heretic. The price to be paid by those who lead “the least of these” astray will be far more severe than those ignorant of the truth.

      Report Post » team1blazer  
  • Back To Reality
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:01am

    No matter what position he takes on gay marriage, I seriously doubt he will win in November.

    Since he doesn‘t want to be known as the man who was ’voted out’ of the WH on issues of the economy and foreign policy, he will now be able to conveniently blame this issue.

    Report Post » Back To Reality  
    • Square Dancer
      Posted on May 15, 2012 at 8:27am

      “No matter what position he takes on gay marriage, I seriously doubt he will win in November”

      I beg to differ. From a strong conservative, I’m betting he WILL win this November. Look at what he has going for him:

      All / Most of the black vote
      All / Most of the Union vote
      All / Most of the illegal alien vote
      All / Most of the Liberal vote
      All / Most of the democrat vote
      All of the gay vote
      All / Most of the news media vote

      Oh yeah…he will win again…and this country is doomed.

      Report Post »  
    • Back To Reality
      Posted on May 22, 2012 at 9:32pm

      You’re incorrect, and here is why.

      He broke records by raising and spending nearly a billion dollars for the 2008 election during a season when a win should’ve been a cake-walk for Democrats.

      He ran against an appeasement liberalish senator that even Biden said he’d be willing to VP for, and against an Alaska governor who, in spite of her passion, didn’t present very well. The result was that at the end of the day, Obama won with one of the SMALLEST win margins in the history of presidential elections. A mere shift of 3% of voters would’ve meant a loss for Obama.

      I don’t believe he will pull it off again…now that there is a real record to assign to him, and it’s not a good one.

      Report Post » Back To Reality  
  • Back To Reality
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 8:59am

    I believe this will become the “excuse.”

    I seriously don’t think he can win in November no matter what his stance is on gay marriage. Now it will be convenient for him to claim that he lost on this one social issue rather than take blame for his disasterous policies on the economy and foriegn policy.

    Smoke and mirrors.

    Report Post » Back To Reality  
  • BeingThere
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 8:58am

    “Hey guys, come on, I just said that to get the homosexuals to vote for me, I don’t really believe they should be allowed to get married. In fact, I don’t believe in anything!!!”

    Something like that?

    Report Post » BeingThere  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 8:54am

    Newsweek, which is nothing more than a propaganda outlet for obama, has broken the news that obama is gay. If obama didn’t want trouble with Christian leaders, he should not have revealed that he is gay, and he should not support gay marriage – obama is not interested in support from Christian leaders, or Christians in general.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
    • objectivetruth
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:15am

      He has stepped over the line on this one.Its one thing to endorse civil unions.Telling churchs and religion they must conform is wrong both legally and morally.Its a total violation of church and state.Then again I feel that forcing the military to accept gays within their ranks was also wrong.The key word here is force.Its also bound to create discension.While I admit that gays can definetly fight and would excel perhaps.You still have anywhere between six weeks and two years worth of training to get through.This is where the problems will arise.
      Leave it to the ““The One”” to further divide.Maybe one of his cabinet advisors need to explain the hole theory to him.Chiefly if you are already in one STOP DIGGING.

      Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 8:54am

    “In the end, most them did, indeed, agree to “work aggressively” to help him”
    So, race trumps even God’s word for these men. Pathetic.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Ironeagle
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 8:53am

    The Newsweek cover is appropriate–makes Obama look clownish and undignified. I can’t stand looking at that That _ick with the big ears.

    Report Post » Ironeagle  
  • mcgrawactor1
    Posted on May 14, 2012 at 8:53am

    Why is all the discussion about Christian leaders disagreeing with the Presiden’t newly evolved stance on Gay marriage? How do Islamic clerics feel? Even though Muhammed was a pedophile, would he endorse same sex marriage? Does Islam today, specifially sharia law? What about other religions? Do Rabbis perform same sex marriages in their synagogues? Perhaps it is because Christians are still the majority in this country, and they vote. However, it should be noted that religious leaders of all stripes must have reservations about all this as well.

    Report Post » mcgrawactor1  
    • wingedwolf
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:02am

      Excellent point. I think the president is going to seriously regret this attempt at political mollification of a special interest group. His other special interest groups, like the latinos and illegals are not going to be pleased. He seems to really believe his own hype, he thinks he is the messiah and can be all things to all people. We don’t even know WHO he is, much less WHAT he is.

      Report Post » wingedwolf  
    • PingPongPing
      Posted on May 14, 2012 at 9:14am

      How does obama feel being called the first “GaY” PRESIDENT?

      ohhhh, feel the buuuuurrrrnnnn!

      Report Post » PingPongPing  
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