Bishop Long breaks his silence
- 9/26/10
- Categorized in: DeKalb News
Standing tall and appearing unweathered by the damning sexual coercion allegations against him, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church pastor, Bishop Eddie Long, addressed the thousands in attendance at the Lithonia megachurch Sunday, Sept. 26.
“I am not a perfect man, but this thing I will fight,” Long said.
During his brief speech Long did not directly address any of the allegations made against him, nor did he provide an admission of guilt or innocence. Long said he was “not going to try this case in the media.” and that “It will be tried in the court of justice and dealt with in the court of justice. That’s the only place I think I’ll get justice.”
Four men—Anthony Flagg, 20; Maurice Robinson, 21; Jamal Parris, 23; and Spencer LeGrande—each filed lawsuits last week which accused Long of using his status as their spiritual leader, money, gifts and trips to coerce them into performing sexual acts with Long.
Long ‘s statements made during New Birth’s 8 a.m. service were met resounding support from many members in attendance.
“My first responsibility was to my family—and then my next responsibility was not to address the word before I address my family at New Birth,” Long said.
Long, who under the advice of his counsel had not spoken publicly but had issued a public statement, was able to use his own words to address the crowd and the allegations.
“I’m under attack,” he declared. “I feel like David against Goliath, but I’ve got five rocks and I haven’t thrown one yet.”
JUST ANOTHER SELFISH DOWNLOW BROTHER REAPING THE BENEFITS OF PORTRAYING A RESPECTFUL CHURCH PASTOR. SHAME
At the end of the day it's about accountability to God!
Recently you have been in the news for some alleged sexual activity.
I am Catholic and you know of course that there have been issues in our church and most Baptist despise Catholics. I suppose what I am trying to say is that there is a struggle in all churches.
Over the years I've seen people quit a congregation for the most silly reasons, for example one person didn't like the type of music the pastor played. I remember as a child a group of people decided that the Catholic church wasn't keeping up with the times and demanded that priest and nuns be allowed to marry. The confusion ended up in Rome where the Late Pope John Paul told them that he understood their argument but that the church will stand by its tenants. He offered them a solution, he told them if they felt that strongly about their case then perhaps they should go some where else. They broke from the Catholic Church and formed a commune type cult called the "Bread of Life". Everyone was happy again.
I recount the above story which is true to say this. If the young men were that unhappy with the way you were or are conducting things you should have invited them to go some where else. I just don't see you being a risk taker to the point that you would loose Father God, your biological family, church family, and the respect from the community in which you live. Of course I could be wrong.
My career as a chemist have allowed me to travel through out this country. I've had to settle for what ever church that was in the community in which I lived in. I don't have a boat load of pleasant experiences to recount. But I have come away from the south really believing that there is no place for most Black men in the ministry. I have seen some of the most despicable behavior from African American men in the church.
I want to close by saying, that prosperity and humans do not reside long in the same place for to long. In some ways I feel that you are being lynched by your own people. If my mom were here, she would surely say, look at all of the good that this man have done. There is no case to be heard in any court. I think that you know that the jails are equally filled with innocent people who haven't the slightest idea about how to release themselves of their current status.
God be with you.
Maria