Bishop Eddie Long Sexual Misconduct Lawsuit Resolved

WATCH:

By ADELLE M. BANKS
c. 2011 Religion News Service

(RNS) Bishop Eddie Long, an Atlanta-area megachurch pastor, has settled suits out of court with four young men who accused him of sexual misconduct, his church announced Thursday (May 26).

"After a series of discussions, all parties involved have decided to resolve the civil cases out of court," Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church said in a statement. "This decision was made to bring closure to this matter and to allow us to move forward with the plans God has for this ministry."

The brief statement from the church in suburban Lithonia described the resolution of the cases as "the most reasonable road for everyone to travel."

B.J. Bernstein, who represented Long's accusers, confirmed the resolution.

Long, 58, who has been an outspoken opponent of homosexuality, denied the accusations in suits filed last September by the men, all in their early 20s. The four men alleged that Long plied them with presents and trips abroad and seduced them into sexual acts.

Long has built his congregation into one of the nation's largest African-American megachurches.

Comments

[JonB2057]

02:58 PM on 06/22/2011

Hey HuffPo, This is old news. How about closing this subject??

[kwalker459]

10:52 AM on 06/09/2011

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness."

By not doing so leaves one in a perilous state and isolates us from God's love and help. Eddie Long by all accounts has not addressed this. The WORD also says to confess your sins one to another that you might be healed. It is better to enter into life disfigured than to be left out when all one has to do is ask for God's forgiveness. Since it did come to light, the membership of New Birth deserve a public confession by its leader because it has hurt them. They need to know so they can move forward.
Homosexual activity is sin. (.) I didn't say it but God's Word says it, so to all who may want to argue go argue with God. He listens, actually He is a good listener, and if you can get Him to make changes I am sure He will inform us of His change of heart.

Young people have a saying that is apropos, " Hate the game not the player." I am gonna say this again, and not I but the Word, that ALL that practice homosexual behavior ARE IN DANGER OF THE LAKE OF FIRE.

[ElaineOO]

12:19 PM on 06/07/2011

Very ugly and shameful. Even though God forgives all and ask us to forgive all. How can this man tell me to love my neighbor when he%u2019s harming his neighbors? I cannot sit and listen to his messages without thinking about those young men. If you're a leader, your hands should be cleaner than anyone else, it comes as a package.

[bigkendallas]

08:45 AM on 06/06/2011

The posters here assuming that Bishop Long is guilty, perhaps he simply followed the advice of his attourney as settlements are made all the time in our legal system.

Remember what was actually happenning, there were 3 seperate lawsuits:

1. Against Bishop Eddie Long
2. Against the Longfellows Academy
3. Against New Birth Church

Each case would have to be fought independantly.

Since the second and third lawsuits are against organiozations, instead of him, it involves a larger group of people. This makes things much more legally complicated as then the larger circle of people would then each be seeking independant legal advice.

This case was bigger than him simply saying "I didnt do it". It's also about how much money, and how many years are going to be spent as these threee seperate cases work their way through out legal system.

Of course people here are going to say that a purely legal decision somehow proves that Bishop Long is guilty of something ..or that he's secretly gay or blah blah blah.

In reality, famous people get sued all the time, and settle civil cases all the time.
This is a common tactic, to wear the person down enough to meke them pay just to go away. This is quite common in civil trials as the rules of evidence are much weaker.

I myself would have fought it to the end, but that's easy for me to say that ... Im not being sued.

[Nick Edgington]

12:08 AM on 06/07/2011

Bishop Long action may or may not reach the standard of the preponderance of the evidence for a civil suit, we will never know.

My question is should a man who calls himself a Bishop be resorting to legalistic arguments, I would have thought a man who claims the roll of a moral sheppard should be above reproach, based on the photographs and his actions lavishing gifts on young boys that is a standard he has simply failed to met.

The fact that the law suits went beyond his action to those around him in the church, made it all the more important that he vigorously defend his good name and the good name of the church.

If he is innocent let a truly independent third party investigate, these are serous accusation, let all the evidence come out.

Personalty I think the guy is a sexual predator and I am entitled to my option.

[ElaineOO]

12:28 PM on 06/07/2011

However...I wouldn't give a wooden nickel to anyone if I was not guilty. It is also possible that the rich and famous pay-out to protect their name. They young men's lawyer slandered Eddie Long's name in the media; now, most people see him as mud. This was clearly a legal tactic.

[Nick Edgington]

01:07 PM on 06/07/2011

Ok course it was a legal tactic, Bishops Long victims lawyer were out to get a the biggest settlement possible, that is her job, Bishops Long job was to act as a moral beacon to his followers. Who here did not live up expatiation.

[JonB2057]

04:02 PM on 06/05/2011

Has anyone come across any information about the wife's plans?? Is she a stand by her man type of woman (as long as the money flows)??

[havana62]

01:30 AM on 06/03/2011

For some reason I don't think God has the same plan as Rev. Long.....

[Nick Edgington]

04:34 PM on 06/02/2011

A bishop, even a self appointed one, has a special responsible to his flock, by accepting the title they assume a position moral leadership. I would suggest here that bishop Long as violated that trust,

It is not my concern with whom he was having relationship, male or female, by assume the title of bishop, he assume the responsible to be above reproach, the violation is compounded by the age of those involved. Legalistic discussion of the age of consent in Georgia might be appropriate if he were a common pimp. The man has chosen to call himself a bishop I would have thought this would mean he would have held himself to a slightly higher standard. He clearly has not done so.

[OutAtFirst]

02:42 PM on 05/31/2011

Any truth to the rumor that the church is being renamed The Holy Baptist Church of the Depleted Coffer?

[kwalker459]

12:46 PM on 05/31/2011

If Bishop Long is of God, he has one and only one wise choice to make. The recipe for restoration is through confession. Before all this began, I'd never heard of the man, however the Scripture makes it clear that we should confess our sins for His cleansing and forgiveness. There is no need to carry sin.

Bishop Long has chosen to ignore God's word and those members who continue to sit under his leadership may very well be sitting under the word with no anointing. To me that's kind of foolish, but it is their choice.

All the talk of not judging is also unfruitful and foolish, as the Scripture itself has judged Bishop Long's alleged actions as sin. God has already judged homosexual activity as sin, not us, and we know what those wages are. To make it clear to all, all who practice in homosexual activity will pay. Does not the Scripture still say "to turn from your wicked ways and turn to the Living God.

Any one accepting or preaching anything other is saying God is a liar and wishy washy. His word is and will never change.Man can argue all they want but the Word is and will never change and is the prescription to successful living and restoration with God.

Selah

[cesar delarosa]

08:53 AM on 06/02/2011

How is being gay the same as being wicked? How is my life and my privacy affects, diminish or offends your integrity? Oh, right!... you're another bigoted Christian who loves to pick and chose what to believe in the bible. There's no sentence in the Bible where homosexuality is condemned and the ridiculous book that speaks of it, condemns: eating shrimp, pork, wearing certain clothes along with a whole bunch of ridiculous demands, oh and let's not forget it diminishes the humanity AND integrity of women, as they are made of Man (lol) and must serve their men. So unless you're a guy, I suggest to speak and opine when you're asked to. Hey don't blame me, I am very open minded, I am just measuring you by the same yardstick you measure society, and it says it right there women are not equal to men.

[JonB2057]

04:10 PM on 06/05/2011

"How is my life and my privacy"

Curious, since it's your life and privacy, why do the rest of us need to know about what you do?

[detroitblkmale30]

10:55 AM on 05/31/2011

Wait what happened to I'm going fight this? What happened to "I've got 5 smooth stones, and I ain't thrown one yet!" ?

I guess he decided to throw money instead.

What he did was wrong. Obviously. His pride among other things contributed to his downfall. He's known all along what his involvement in this has been. So why come out with the I'm fighting this etc etc.

Why not come out and say then or NOW Mea Culpa. An honest , genuine apology to his church members for what was done to young men in his care and in a program the church members supported with their money and effort and for his going astray. There will be no healing for that church until that happens. What a sad state of affairs

[Nick Edgington]

09:25 AM on 06/01/2011

Jimmy Swaggart come on down, at least he admitted what he did, perhaps even honestly, at the time. This guy just swept it all neatly under the rug and it now back to business as usual, me thinks he will be a little more careful then next time, my guess his cost his congregation more than an Armani suit and one of those gold chains he so loves to wear.

[detroitblkmale30]

10:37 AM on 06/01/2011

Yeah except he's going to lose alot of his membership and has lost a significant amount so far. Its one thing to say I didnt do it or I was set up. Its another to settle out of court with no closure or details. For many that will be their walking papers.

[ElaineOO]

03:03 PM on 06/08/2011

I agree, the ethical action is to, at least, confess to wrong doing; but, I guess pride will hinder one from revealing the truth.

[gsell44]

12:53 AM on 05/31/2011

I wonder how much $$$$ changed hands?

[deb0]

03:46 PM on 05/30/2011

How many of these attributes resemble Christianity and Godliness:
- Excessive bling
- Private jet
- Pastor texting photos of physique to minors
- MultiMillion dollar mansions financed via "love offerings"
- Accusations of pedophilia by multiple minors.
- Promising congregation to fight charges
- Settling out of court and preventing any details of the settlement to be revealed.

[JonB2057]

04:12 PM on 05/30/2011

deb0.
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"How many of these attributes resemble Christiani­ty and Godliness:
- Excessive bling
- Private jet
- Pastor texting photos of physique to minors
- MultiMilli­on dollar mansions financed via "love offerings"
- Accusation­s of pedophilia by multiple minors.
- Promising congregati­on to fight charges
- Settling out of court and preventing any details of the settlement to be revealed."

Personally, I don't give a damn what he does with these guillable people's hard earned money. I would truly be shocked if he (and all of the other's) took the money and helped develop the community that supports him. For example, some of us know that "redlining" still goes on. Why not set up a neighborhood credit union?? Why not build "afforadable housing" in the surronding communities? Why no set up schools? Why not start "co-ops" to compete with the stores that are ripping off the communities???

[deb0]

04:40 PM on 05/30/2011

Because he's far more busy getting fake hair, jewelery, and touching little boys.

[Stephen Stafford]

12:26 AM on 05/31/2011

Be shocked, because that congregation does a great deal of work in the community, and have established a number of the things you mentioned.

[BUMbO]

09:38 PM on 05/30/2011

You're right. Absolutely. I have a huge problem with someone who is supposedly a Christian wearing huge gold bracelets, luxury clothing, custom shoes, obvious riches. And the congregation makes excuses for this behavior. They are naive. A private jet? Mansions? Those foolish people rewarded this man who does not deserve it. They give reasons, like pressure on a minister, etc., to excuse this behavior, but their logic is hollow. Godliness is the furthest thing from this situation.

[Stephen Stafford]

12:30 AM on 05/31/2011

He has multiple income stream beyond the huge compensation he receives from his church ministry. He can buy what he wants, don't you? It is his money.

He has misbehaved, but he deserves what he has because he worked hard for it. You may have a different theology or application of the Christian message, but you can't run his church and Christian practices.

You can judge away, if that is your idea of sound Christian conduct.

[jsaiditfirst]

01:12 PM on 05/30/2011

When you walk in the dark without using a light your bound to fall in a hole.

[L0neV0ice]

10:33 AM on 05/31/2011

Would that have been his defence argument in court?

[ThaBrainz]

10:35 AM on 05/30/2011

Blind Sheep Following a Lost Shepherd is a must hear podcast...New Birth Church family if you have been loyal until this point that is admirable...but God has sent a sign, move on!!!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/centerstage/2010/11/27/blind-sheep-following-lost-shepherds

[JonB2057]

04:25 PM on 05/30/2011

I did not watch the whole thing, but when I heard Brother Marvin's (PBUH) smooth voice singing "What"s Going On" I knew that the rest of the message was on point.

[ThaBrainz]

10:33 AM on 05/30/2011

Message for the New Birth Church family...Blind Sheep Following a Lost Shepherd is a must hear podcast. Take a listen to a podcast from last year about this and other church scandals that has rocked the Body of Christ.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/centerstage/2010/11/27/blind-sheep-following-lost-shepherds