Bishop Eddie Denies, Charges Keep Coming

As reported by ABC News, Bishop Eddie Long has been accused a third time for sexual abuse and has denied all of the charges. 

The latest, filed September 22, accuse Long of sexually abusing Jamal Parris, 23, during long private flights to Los Angeles, Trinidad and New York. ABC News has obtained documents that allege Long requested sexual massages and oral sodomy from Parris.

Maurice Robinson and Anthony Flagg, the first two young men to accuse Long of sexual abuse, stated that Long first recruited them into his youth ministry and then forced them to perform various sexual acts.

The two also said that the youth ministry had hundreds of young men as members, and though other church members knew and kept quiet about what was happening, the young men believe that others are sure to come forward now.

Church members are hesitant in believing the accusations while the lawyer for both Robinson and Flagg, B.J. Bernstein, states that evidence she has gained -  photographs, text messages and e-mails - prove that sexual relationships occurred.

ABC News has obtained one photo in which Long is in a bathroom wearing a red muscle shirt.  The November 2008 e-mail that accompanied the photo ended with, "Eddie L Long, Amazed by His Grace."

Bernstein told the news, "What pastor in his right mind sends a picture from himself, posing in his bathroom in a muscle shirt?  None that I know of. Especially one who is a committed homophobe."

His New Birth Missionary Baptist Church has about 25,000 members and resides on 240 acres of property in Lithonia, Ga.  Because Long has a reputation for being strongly opposed to same-sex marriage, some civil rights leaders refused to attend Coretta Scott King's funeral as he hosted the ceremony in 2006 at his church.

All three young men have stated that Long "coerced certain young male members and employees" into having sexual relationships with him.

The men, now all just over 21, said that the bribes included cars, clothes, jewelry, electronics and overnight trips in luxury hotels. Though all were 17 or 18 years old when the sexual relationships took place - 17 is above the age of consent in Georgia -  both Robinson and Flagg contend that Long had a "fiduciary duty" as their spiritual advisor not to subject them to unwanted sex.

Craig Gillen, Long's attorney, said that, "Bishop Eddie Long adamantly denies the allegations.  It's unfortunate the two young men have chosen to take this course of action."

The lawsuit brought forth by Robinson and Flagg contends that Long used scripture from the Bible to get what he wanted by reinforcing "the God-like connection between himself and the young men." He also attempted to block any sexual relationships that the men tried to pursue with women.

A member for 12 years of Long's church, Frank Ski, told the Atlanta Constitution Journal, "It's difficult for me because Bishop Long and I are very close. I'm one of these people who's really old school. When you're a friend and I support you, I support you. Right now it's allegations."

If you, or someone you care about, has ever been subject to sexual abuse from a priest, click here for our directory of professional attorneys that can help.