Gay Sex Claims Against Bishop Eddie Long Rock Gospel Community
From The Grio — By Ronda Racha Penrice – Allegations from 21-year-old Anthony Flagg and 20-year-old Maurice Robinson of sexual impropriety by prominent Atlanta minister, Bishop Eddie Long, who presides over New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, which sits on 240 acres of land in Lithonia, GA and has over 25,000 members, shook the gospel community last night. During a press conference, the young men’s attorney, B.J. Bernstein, best known for winning justice for Genarlow Wilson, who was wrongly incarcerated for sexual predatory behavior as a teen, detailed several incidents of Long’s alleged sexual misconduct.
Flagg alleges that he and Long shared a bed at various hotels during several trips paid for by the church. In addition, Flagg was on the New Birth payroll and was given a Mustang convertible for his personal use. Robinson had similar allegations and claims that Long engaged in sexual relations with him during a trip to Auckland, New Zealand. In addition to receiving a Malibu car for his use, Robinson’s tuition at an area college was also paid. Long reportedly referred to such men as his “spiritual sons” and even conducted a candlelit ceremony to seal that covenant.
Because both men were 16 or older at the time of alleged sexual activity, the age of sexual consent in the state of Georgia, the suit is not a criminal one. Instead, the suit alleges pastoral misconduct and seeks punitive damages against Long, New Birth and LongFellows Youth Academy, a tuition-based nonprofit program specifically designed for young boys that Long personally oversaw. Long, through his attorney Craig Gillen, has denied the allegations.
On Twitter, the story was a top trending topic last night. Atlanta radio personality Mizz Shyneka tweeted “I just think that every1 needs 2 reserve judgment about Bishop Eddie Long until they know all the facts! Those are big accusations!” Popular gospel music duo Mary Mary urged their Twitter followers to “be quiet and pray for Bishop Eddie Long..” [sic]
The Southern Poverty Law Center identified Long as “one of the most virulently homophobic black leaders in the religiously based anti-gay movement” in 2007. Long, along with New Birth pastor Bernice King, daughter of civil rights icons Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, led a 2004 march described by gay rights activists as “an anti-gay marriage march.” In 2006, Julian Bond reportedly did not attend Coretta Scott King’s funeral services at New Birth because of the church’s anti-gay stance.
(Continue Reading @ The Grio…)
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She sure as heck kept it on the low while she was milking the Disney-Good Girl money. I guess she milked that tit dry.
I’m sorry, but for Mary Mary to say “be quiet and pray for Bishop Eddie Long..” is a crock of bull. These people were the first ones to cry foul when the Catholic church was accuse of the same wrong doing but want us to “not rush to judgement” and “be quiet”. This is why if I ever have children I am moving from the south and teaching my kids that religion is good, but research everything on your own and find what is best for you. The “megachurches” are taking over and brainwashing our communities into making them rich.
Hmm…It should be interesting to see how this pans out. I’m not saying anyone is innocent or guilty yet. Situations like this are odd.
Why are these people being carried around in luxury. Do they know nothing about being a ‘humble’ servant of the Lord. I’m not a fan of these mega churches. It’s easy for people to get “lost” in them. What happened to smaller church community?
I hope for all of their sakes this is resolved promptly. But if the allegations are indeed correct, it’ll make me sick to my stomach.
Protect your children people. And watch out for wolves in sheeps clothing.
Not sure what to think about this…
mega church = cult as far as I’m concerned. it has always boggled my mind how these pastors of these huge churches are living in the lap of luxury, preaching humility and the like, while driving the most expensive cars and living in mansions… i think it’s basically a crock. for those that would rather “be quiet and pray” for this man… I wonder if they say the same thing whenever a priest is accused of raping a young boy… somehow, i doubt it.
LMAO. why am i not suprised by this? the most homophobic are usually the most hypocritical and engaged in some form of homosexual activity. one of the many reasons homophobia is so pathetic.
I’m not a fan of Rev Tightclothes but his side does need to be heard before he is sent to the gallows.
I like the name you gave him. “Rev. Tightclothes” I enjoy his preaching but was always disgusted with his tight fitting body shirts that he wears in public in the pulpit. I found it to be interesting and funny at the same time.
LMAO @ “spiritual sons.” GTFOH.
He yelling so loud about gay demons out the front door so you wouldn’t pay attn to what was going on @ the back door. lol
Had to get that in but I’ll keep the peace until all the facts come out.
Oh it tickles me how *some* ‘Christians’ are quick to insist others ‘hold their tongues’ and not ‘judge’ when one of them/their own gets caught with a hand in the cookie jar — yet vocally calling out other’s sins, judging and damning people to hell is almost a pastime for *some* of them. …If this is found to be true, I can’t say I’d be surprised in the least.
I’m all for living well, beautiful homes, expensive cars and any nice possessions one can afford but I’ve an aversion to most mega-churches, Bentley-driving ‘ministers’ that rock ostentatious and/or tacky attire, and the preaching of “prosperity gospel.” I’ll feel sad for members of the church who believed and gave their money yet feel duped.
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“We’re raising our young boys to be just like the women… …The problem today and the reason society is like it is, is because men are being feminized and women are being masculine! You can not say, ‘I was born this way.’ … I don’t care what scientists say!” – Bishop Eddie Long, 2007
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Why does it seem as if the louder anti-gay or homophobic individuals are often the ones busted with skeletons, dust, spider webs and cockroaches in their own closets? i.e. Ted Haggard, the former leader of the National Association of Evangelicals, who supported a Colorado amendment to ban same-sex marriage while using drugs and getting it in with men on the side; Mark Foley, a former Republican US Representative from Florida, was Chairman of the House Caucus on Missing And Exploited Children yet sending sexually explicit IMs to teenaged Congressional pages etc. Heck, I’d hardly be shocked if bones eventually fall out the closet of that “God hates f@gs” hate-mongerer, Fred Phelps.
This story is so disturbing on so many levels. I grew up in this church, was baptized by Bishop Long and everything. When I was about 18, I stopped being a member. Mainly because I felt lost in the shuffle. It seemed as if Bishop Long was becoming bigger than the Word, and I wasn’t comfortable with that. I really hate to compare New Birth to a cult, but in some instances, it is. You can NEVER say anything bad about Bishop to a member. Blasphemy. I don’t know if the allegations are true, but I hope it snaps some of his congregation out of their state of blind following.
This story has unfolded in typical. What could have been a chance for the black community to have an honest and open talk about sexual abuse in our churches and the hypocrisy of our “church leaders” had predictably turned into a narrative of “the down low” and of course promoting homophobia.
CNN the most idiotic name in news was all too willing to invite village idiot J L King on as an “expert” because duh that’s what this story needs is furthering of the down low myth.
I am not surprised by any of this. This is what happens when the black community embraces mythical fables as if they are true.
All of this boils right down to the black community being obsessed with mythical and magical beliefs and therefore organizing their world around the lies of said belief systems, particularly the lies it tells on perfectly legitimate sexual orientations.
But if it means anything I hear the down low created HIV/AIDS in a lab to kill black women.
Where were the mothers at and what did they say when their child came home with a brand new car and went on trips out the country? Did the mothers go with them? I guess my mom was more strict about letting me stay over people’s houses or even accepting expensive gifts from people. Times have changed.
a candlelit ceremony? that is CREEPY!
why would you trust anybody named eddie loooong?
Innocent till proven guilty but damn if it doesn’t look bad when a third one comes out. Starting to like Tiger Woods.
It is far better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not. If these allegations are ture, and I pray that they are not, it is the hypocrisy of condeming what, in fact, you are, that hurts. It was Eddie Long who said in 2007, “Women are being masscilized, and men are being feminizzed. And they say they are born that way. I don’t care what they say.” And, it was Eddie Long who, with Bernice King at his side, led an anti-gay march of thousands through the streets of Atlanta as recently as 2004.
I really hope the allegations are false, but damage has already been done, and not just to Bishop Long. These sort of accusations make black women even less trusting of brothers, and this is the last thing our community needs.
Is the Down Low Fear Justified?
http://singleindependentsistah.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/is-the-down-low-fear-justified/
This spiritual son and daughter stuff is going toooooo far. Long is not the only one to use/misuse it. In Kaiserslautern Germany Life Changers New Horizon has a cult leader that does the same thing. Now this man is in trouble with the law for misuse of money, and he is the subject of sexual misuse with the ladies. It is alleged that he and his pastor are sleeping around, then there is the report of the mistress that is married to a member in his cult and then there is the report about two females – one an elder both went through an abortion after getting pregnant by the leader and now there are pictures of a child said to be fathered by him on facebook with another married women in his cult. Yep, this man fancies himself as quite the lady’s man and brags about being the “prize.” If – “IF” Long is guilty he has plenty of company.
Put not your trust in man, for he WILL deceive you. This is a case that only God can judge. This is based on biblically and spiritually. First of all to sleep with anything that is forbidden such as animal and humans and men and men and women and women is an abomination anyway and for a shepherd to abuse his flock and a Pastor to molest the saints, male or female is just plain as day sin. So if this happened God has already judged him and there is nothing we can do about that, but pray for the people that he has confused. His verdit will come from God which will be the maximum, and who can stand?