A group of black activist clergy says they plan to organize against Christian conservatives they accuse of using same-sex “marriage” and abortion to distract from other moral issues including the war, voting rights, affirmative action, and poverty. The Reverends Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and Joseph Lowery are attending a three-day black clergy conference in Dallas. Sharpton says there are no homosexuals coming to black churches asking to get married. He said tours are planned in swing election states starting next month to bring out black voters and to push Democrats to take tougher stands on social justice issues. But a spokesman for evangelical conservatives says Christian conservatives agree with black churchgoers on key issues. Rev. Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals says stereotypes should not be used to cause division.

- AP