An anti-gay pastor with a congregation of over 25,000 has been accused of sexually abusing three male teenagers. According to the allegations, Bishop Eddie Long, a fierce critic of same-sex marriage, coerced three young men, aged between 17 and 19 at the time, into sexual activity.
Maurice Robinson and Anthony Flagg, now 20 and 21, filed a lawsuit Tuesday, sayings the bishop talked them into sexual massages and “oral sodomy” by telling them it was part of their spiritual development. According to this transcript from CNN, the relationships began with a “ceremony,” during which jewellery was exchanged and a covenant was made for Bishop Long to be the boys’ “spiritual father.” The third man, Jamal Parris, now 23, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has described the bishop as “one of the most virulently homophobic black leaders in the religiously based anti-gay movement.”
Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, in Atlanta, Georgia, runs an ex-gay “Out of the Wilderness” program offering counseling for gays “who desire healing and deliverance through the Word of God.” In 2006, the church hosted a “sexual orientation and reorientation” conference featuring DL Foster, a Pentecostal preacher so radically homophobic, even Ex-Gay Watch rarely bothers to comment on him these days.
If the accusations are true, Bishop Eddie Long would not be the first outspoken Christian homophobe to harbour gay desires or act on them in private–but that these allegations involve not just homosexual activity and hypocrisy, but abuse of power and assault of vulnerable adolescents, makes them particularly despicable.
Bishop Long has denied the accusations and has announced a press conference on Thursday.
I too have my reservations about Foster who asserts himself as an expert on the issue of homosexuality. While I as a heterosexual male do not personally subscribe to the notion that homosexuality is right or good, I cannot stand hypocrites. Foster calls for the punishment, exposure of clergy who are accused ( not convicted) of acts of sexual abuse while he is a self admitted former homosexual who engaged in similar acts while he was practicing or living the lifestyle. if he thinks is was ungodly, illegal then he was also that while he was practicing. His “repenting” and changing does not change the fact that he too was sexually involved with boys or men- the same ‘sins” he want others punished for. he is a hypocrite of the worse kind.
Foster has serious issues.
Anyone who calls themself “ex-gay” has serious issues. There is no such thing as “ex-gay,” only those who are sadly pushed back into the closet.
Anthea Butler’s article over at Religion Dispatches is excellent. (She addresses homophobia and closeted “leaders” in black mainline and evangelical churches, not just the deal with Eddie Long.)
Well put.
When I first saw the story it was three o’clock in the am. I had just gotten in from work I am a openly gay female from Arkansas. I wasn’t shocked more disappointed. This pastor of a mega church ex-gay watch and what ever else is accused of sexually abuse against under age boys. I could have felt the way he felt about my type of people(homosexuals) but the first thing that came to my minds was my heart goes out to those young men. But, most of all my prayers goes out to the Pastor Eddie Long am not going to past judgement on him just pray that he not a hyprocrite and fighting this homosexual emotions by bashing other homosexual and being in the closet.