Thaindian News

By Gina Gomez
Sep 22 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Bishop Eddie Long, who was once described as the most homophobic figures in the country has been accused of exploiting his role as a pastor and to coerce two men into sexual relationship relationships when they were young. This news came as a shock and surprise to the whole congregation as he was considered as one of the most “virulently homophobic” black leaders in the anti-gay movement. The two men, Anthony Flagg and Maurice Robinson filed different lawsuits against him yesterday at DeKalb County Court.

Anthony Flagg and Maurice Robinson complained that the Bishop Eddie Long had utilized his spiritual authority to intimidate them in “engaging” in sexual acts when they were members of his congregation for his own “gratification”. The lawsuit also claims that the Bishop had taken them to different trips in United States to indulge into intimate relationship with him. Bishop Eddie Long, who is the pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia has denied all the allegations against him, his lawyer Craig Gillen said. The lawyer also added that it is “unfortunate” that “these” two men had taken this course of action against the Bishop.

Craig Gillen said that presently they are “reviewing” the complains and will respond to it “accordingly”. Maurice Robinson’s lawsuit reportedly claimed that the Church officials were unaware of the whole situations. On the other hand, the media sources say that the church officials has known about the acts but covered it up to protect the most “powerful church” in the Southwest. The sexual acts occurred when these men were 17 and 18 years old. Brenda Joy Bernstein, the lawyer of the plaintiffs said that the Bishop is destroying “lives”.