GA - Bishop Long accused of coercing young males into sex

[believe09]

Perfect description oh gal! Isn't the Bible very clear about those who relish wealth over goodness? Yet, all these mega-churches work under the premise that God wants everyone to be wealthy. How do people reconcile this in their minds? It's completely beyond me.

BBM-or we could ammend that to God wants everyone of these pastors to be wealthy...as opposed to the parishioners.

 

[believe09]

I think he is going to take a swan dive before this gets to the deposition phase...he is currently shipping his money overseas I am willing to bet and will allow whatever insurance company that oversees the church to take on a settlement with the accusers. He will be awash in tears and will claim to be cured of his homosexuality.

Just a guess, and jmvho.

 

[Belinda]

I have no trouble with anyone being gay, but the supreme hypocrisy in running his mouth against gay marriage all the time coupled with the fact that he is going after young adults that he has groomed, combines to turn my stomach. Wow, that was one heck of a run-on sentence, wasn't it?

 

[believe09]

I like run on's as you have noticed, Belinda, lol.

He supposedly deliberately chose young men over the age of consent. So at least he has that going for him. I guess. Perhaps he did not wish to marry them, hence his stance on gay marriage.

Just trying to make sense of it all....

 

[believe09]

We know, from what we saw with Haggard and many others before him, these flocks have been primed to forgive. In fact, they want to forgive...so really he is not likely to lose much except in the world outside his church.

Maybe his Bentley. Maybe he will ultimately lose his Bentley.

 

[Missizzy]

That's just too harsh, Believe. A man lose his hard earned Bentley? Come on.

Can anyone tell just what the bottles of meds are on that desk? And does Long preach against drinking? Looks like a wine glass to me.

Note: This is from the website with a good bit of nudity.

http://hiphopwired.com/2010/09/27/new-eddie-long-pictures-33333/

Four pages.

 

[Missizzy]

It seems that Bishop Long tried to drop the charges of burglary against the male accuser. Who knows, maybe he just thought it was the Christian thing to do. However, the DA wouldn't go along with that plan, apparently:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20017898-504083.html

"A Georgia district attorney will continue with the burglary case against a man who has accused Bishop Eddie Long of coercing him into a sexual relationship, despite the pastor's wishes to drop the charges, according to a report...."

and

"...Bishop Long apparently visited former District Attorney Gwen Keyes-Fleming last month to request that she drop the burglary charges, said Chief Assistant District Attorney Don Geary. Keyes-Fleming, who recently stepped down from her position, denied the pastor's request and Geary has all intentions of proceeding with the case...."

more at link

 

[Missizzy]

So, my junior criminologist over here took a look at the second set of photos and pointed out some interesting details which I missed.

First, he noticed a clear glass measuring cup with red markings behind the bottles of vitamins. Why would that be on a office desk?

Secondly, he pointed out that the body language between Long and the young seated man in the black shirt is extremely unusual. He said that he found it odd that the younger man would grasp Bishop Long by the upper arm and lean towards him. He said that should be the reverse as it's an authoritative gesture. He said that as a young 21 year old man, he would never grasp an older man's upper arm in such a way. He also noted that the young man was most definitely in Bishop Long's space--far closer than most men feel comfortable. He said that Long seemed to hardly be aware of the man and almost ignoring him.

Then, he pointed out that all three young men, while somewhat unique in their dress, share many similarities in body type and build. While Long is extremely built, all the young men are slender. He wondered about the earrings as he said that he'd think that Long would not approve of that given that he's said that gays are revolting. Older, more traditional men still can equate earrings on men with being gay and he said that he felt that if they'd been in an academy that wouldn't be allowed.

I might need to encourage this young man to get his own WS account. I have to say that I was impressed. He has been paying attention in his criminology classes.

 

[Salem]

Respectfully snipped ~

See other fashions.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/zandile-blay/bishop-eddie-long-a-wolf_b_741058.html

Good grief. Thousands who attend his church support his lifestyle with contributions. Amazing.

The first picture of Long hugging the guy, in this link, makes me think he is guilty. This was right after the sermon where he addressed the allegations against him. Look at his face, what do you think he is thinking?

Salem

 

[Missizzy]

Sexual harassment and predator like behavior is horrid. But to hit on young men who've been taught in your own academy that gay sex is revolting, is inexcusable. Shame. Pay attention to the details....


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100929...jA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaWVzBHNsawNzZXh1YWxhYnVzZWE-

Sexual abuse accuser calls Ga. pastor 'predator'


"One of the young men accusing megachurch Bishop Eddie Long of coercing him into a sexual relationship told a TV interviewer that he loved the pastor and considered him a father figure, but still called him a "predator" and a "monster."

"I loved him and I'm always going to have love for the things he taught us, but how he left us hurt worse than anything I ever felt in my life," "JP" told Atlanta's Fox TV affiliate WAGA in an interview broadcast Tuesday. "This man turned his back on us when he had no more need for us. That's not a father, that's a predator."

"JP", 23, is one of four men suing the TV preacher in state court, claiming that he abused his "spiritual authority" and gave them cars, clothes, cash and trips to lure them into sexual relationships while they were teen members of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in suburban Atlanta.

"JP" described an ongoing emotional struggle....."

and

"I cannot get the sound of his voice out of my head and I cannot forget the smell of his cologne and I cannot forget the way he made me cry many nights when I drove in his cars on the way home," "JP" said. "I'm not able to take enough showers to wipe the smell of him off my body."

more at link

 

[Belinda]

You've gotta wonder what that does to their minds. To basically be told they are revolting for what they are doing with you, their so-called father figure. Now, that is revolting.

 

[TobyWong*]

I'm so glad we are now getting to hear from one of the accusers. Imo the good things these boys got out of the church are gonna be what bite long in the butt. People like long are the worst of the worst to me. The same category as any other pedophile but worse cause he uses religion as a way to absolve himself. I also deplore people of the church wearing tailored suits and gowns and drive Bentley's and say "look at me,if your as good as me, you too can have all that i have." When in truth it's all a lie.
I'm surprised the accusers didn't jump him while long was giving sermon about all his gay hate. I believe the accuser when he says he can't get long's smell off of him.
I hope it just tumbles from here. Haha so funny that long wanted to drop the burglary charges. He knew what they had on him.

 

[Trino]

That's just too harsh, Believe. A man lose his hard earned Bentley? Come on.

Can anyone tell just what the bottles of meds are on that desk? And does Long preach against drinking? Looks like a wine glass to me.

Note: This is from the website with a good bit of nudity.

http://hiphopwired.com/2010/09/27/new-eddie-long-pictures-33333/

Four pages.

So, mostly his visitors to his penthouse have been young men? Guess that doesn't prove things, but if you have a lot of guys visiting a woman's apartment, hmmmmm.

Is his million dollar penthouse in addition to his home?

Even if he's found to be innocent (don't think so...), his lavish lifestyle, as supported by parishoners, is appauling. WAKE UP, PEOPLE!

 

[Belinda]

It is completely beyond my understanding how normally intelligent people can be completely snowed by these bamboozlers.

 

[Missizzy]

http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/bishop-eddie-long-attorney-644577.html?cxtype=ynews_rss

Bishop Eddie Long | Attorney blasts accusers for trying case in media


"Bishop Eddie Long's attorney ripped his client's accusers and their lawyer, B.J. Bernstein, on Wednesday for "attempting to try their lawsuits in the media.

"There are rules on how civil litigation is to take place and how counsel should conduct themselves, we intend to follow those rules...."

and

"...."I'm not speaking about the individuals and all of that," he [Long] said, according to Channel 2 Action News. "This is spiritual warfare."

Long said that if he thought people believed media reports on the scandal, "I'd be scared to show up, I'd be scared to look at you. But there's something in me bigger than the situation."

and

"...A church spokesman says Long adamantly denies the allegations.

A group of 32 ministers attended the Lithonia church Tuesday night to pray with Long and show their support for the embattled pastor. Long's remarks during the service were somewhat cryptic. "And I'm here to tell you whatever God spoke about me, whatever God said about me, it shall come to pass," Long said...."


more at link

 

[believe09]

OK folks-should we speculate on what God told Bishop Long?

Plead guilty or no contest.

Just a thought...

 

[Salem]

So.... does Long really think he can convince everyone that he is a second Jesus? God is piling this on him, all lies, so that he can suffer and rise again? The young men are his Judas? I have to wonder what he told these young men during their time at the camp and with him. Spiritual warfare and something in him bigger than the situation? Please!

He better watch out or God is gonna smote him for trivalizing God's power.

This tends to make a person really angry, kwim? I wonder why God doesn't just out and out smote people when they are like this man - full of love of money, power and apparently, sex? And they use and exploit people's belief in God to gather all this money and power. YUCK.

Salem

 

[Salem]

OK folks-should we speculate on what God told Bishop Long?

Plead guilty or no contest.

Just a thought...

I think this is what is going to happen also. I think Long maybe afraid there are other skeletons in his closet that might get out if he doesn't stop this now. Whatever he does, he will try to make himself look like the victim. Those poor members of his congregation :furious::furious:

Salem

 

[tlcya]

It is completely beyond my understanding how normally intelligent people can be completely snowed by these bamboozlers.

I am astounded each time a group of individuals is fished in by a charasmatic leader to the point where they leave common sense at the doorstep.

I refer to this "persons'" parishioners, not his victims.

As a survivor, I can tell you that inteligence has nothing to do with it. These young men were selected because of their shaky homelives, low self esteem and lack of a strong male role model in their lives. They were handpicked and then groomed over a long period of time.

 

[Missizzy]

When I see someone like Long calling upon God's name and bringing Jesus into the equation, I always clearly state, "Not my God. Not my Jesus."

IMO, Jesus is embarrassed by the finery, the flaunting, the professing that God wants believers to have wealth. Wealth of spirit maybe, but not Bentleys. It's tawdry and off-putting and is totally contrary to the simple beauty of what Jesus taught. I've always steered clear of the over-used question, "What would Jesus do?" but I have to ask that very question right now to set clearly in my mind the rightness and wrongness of this case.

Jesus found no one revolting. He taught us to love and live simply, honestly and purely. Period.