Bishop Eddie Long Scandal Grows

Another young man has come forward in the Bishop Eddie Long scandal. I told you where there’s smoke there’s fire:

A fourth young male member of Bishop Eddie Long’s megachurch is suing the prominent pastor, claiming Long coerced him into a sexual relationship.

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The lawsuit was filed by Spencer LeGrande, a member of New Birth Charlotte. New Birth Charlotte is a satellite church run by Long in Charlotte, N.C. The lawsuit said Long told LeGrande “I will be your dad” and invited the 17-year-old to journey to Kenya with him in July 2005. LeGrande said that Long gave him a sleeping pill on that trip and that the two engaged in sexual acts.

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The Associated Press does not typically identify alleged victims of impropriety, but attorney B.J. Bernstein has said all four of the men who filed lawsuits consented to being identified publicly.

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The lawsuit claims Long convinced LeGrande that “engaging in a sexual relationship was a healthy component of his spiritual life,” the complaint said.

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LeGrande, now 22, said the two continued their relationship on a February 2006 trip to South Africa and after he moved to Atlanta at Long’s encouragement. He said that Long also instructed him not to have girlfriends, but that he pulled away in the spring of 2009 after he became “disillusioned.” He moved back to Charlotte in October, it said.

I told my mom today that Bishop Eddie Long was the Tiger Woods of the pulpit. Seems I was correct. The YBF is reporting that Long will likely step down tomorrow as head of his church, New Birth Baptist Ministries amid all the scandal. Today he had a conference call with parishioners as he addressed the scandal:

Long told a conference call with parishioners from across the country Friday that he was in the middle of a battle and asked them to pray for his wife, kids and church, WGCL-TV, Atlanta, reported Friday.

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“We will arise through this situation, and go forward, and we are moving forward,” Long said. “I have never dealt with anything like this before. I have been under attack before, but everything else has been different levels and different challenges.”

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“Know that I am also praying for the families and the young men who are accusing. I always operate in the spirit of love, and we are going to move through this,” he said.

Yep..this is getting good. I’m all for lying, hypocritical, good for nothing, money-grubbing ministers to be outed. And this Bishop Eddie Long scandal is the gift that keeps on giving. It makes my day and best believe I will continue to report on all of these matters as the victims continue to come forward. And believe me, there will be more. Time to get out that checkbook Mr. long. Hee Hee.

Tags: Bishop Eddie Long Sex Scandal