Bishop Eddie Long Finally Responds To Sexual Coercion Lawsuits; Denies All Allegations; Admits That He Sometimes Shares Rooms With Members Of Congregation

Monday, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports Bishop Eddie Long filed four exhaustive responses in DeKalb County State Court denying any and all allegations that he coerced young men into sexual relationships, and asked that the four lawsuits brought against him and the church he founded, the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, be dismissed and that a ruling be entered in his favour. In September four men filed suit against Long claiming he coerced them into sexual relationships in exchange for lavish gifts, trips, and jobs, and in his filing Monday, Long said, somewhat oddly, that it was indeed a practice to occasionally share a room with members of his congregation, but that “the plaintiff’s claims of sexual misconduct are not true,” the filing reading that “Bishop Long admits that it is common among his church congregation for members to hug each other and hug the Bishop.” He also admits to giving the plaintiffs gifts, but denied that they were in exchange for sex. Long said he is a “bold revolutionary spiritual leader” with a ministry that places “special emphasis on outreach to men, reinforcing to men that importance of partnering with a ministry that will grow them spiritually.”