A third man has filed a lawsuit against prominent Atlanta-based megachurch pastor and noted homophobe Eddie Long for sexual coercion.
Long also had a 'suspicious' relationship with former President George W. Bush
The new lawsuit alleges that Long coerced, deceived and manipulated a young male church member in the course of a sexual relationship.
This lawsuit adds to accusations made in separate lawsuits by two other members of his church who both also claimed that Long used his position and status in the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church to coerce them into relationships when they were in their late teens. None of the alleged victims have claimed to have been underage at the time.
The lawsuits, filed yesterday in Georgia, claim that “Long has a pattern and practice of singling out a select group of young male church members and using his authority as bishop over them to ultimately bring them to engage in sexual relationships”.
Mr Long has refuted the claims, saying: “We categorically deny the allegations…It is very unfortunate that someone has taken this course of action. Our law firm will be able to respond once attorneys have had an opportunity to review the lawsuit.”
The Pastor, 57, runs a church which now boasts over 25,000 members and runs a global network of ministries and businesses. He has crusaded against homophilia in the past and once declared that his ministry “delivered” people from the clutches of homosexuality.
What is it they say about people who doth protest too much?
