Disgraced New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Bishop Eddie Long has one thing in common with the late Michael Jackson: he paid serious bucks to make his sexual indiscretions go away quietly.
According to online reports, Long settled out of court with his 4 male accusers, who were teenagers of legal age when he plied them with cash and gifts in exchange for sex. Maurice Robinson, 21, Anthony Flagg, 22, Jamal Parris and another man, claimed the Bishop “coerced” and “enticed” them with exotic trips, clothing and cars. In one case, he paid the young man’s college tuition.
Barbara Marschalk, who represents New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and LongFellows Youth Academy, said she anticipates ” the lawsuits will be dismissed, with prejudice, by close of business tomorrow.”
Long was a fierce opponent of gay marriage and often preached anti-gay sermons from the pulpit. All the while a fire burned inside him that only the touch of young boys could extinguish.
Long vigorously denied the allegations when the news broke last September. Throughout the ordeal the Bishop’s long suffering wife and their four grown children stood beside him. Their support never wavered.
V-103 Morning Show co-host Frank Ski, a longtime member of New Birth, called an Atlanta blogger to show his support for his pastor, and to dispute allegations that his show was biased.
There are unconfirmed rumors that Long paid each man $1.5 million and an apology behind closed doors. But according to media personality Star Jones, who was in Atlanta yesterday, the terms of the settlement have not been made public.
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