Path MEGAzine has learned that Bishop Eddie Long has filed a response to the sexual coercion lawsuits against him on Monday. Bishop Long is flat out denying the allegations made against him.
Attorney William Hill filed a response to the lawsuits against Eddie Long.
When allegations of sexual misconduct first surfaced, Bishop Eddie Long told the congregation he would fight, but could not speak further on his innocence at the time. Now, Bishop Long is coming out fighting. In court filings, Bishop Long categorically says he never had a sexual relationship with any of the plaintiffs.
“Enough is enough. He’s done too much damage. It’s time it stops,” said Jamal Parris in an exclusive interview with Atlanta’s FOX 5 back in September.
Parris and three other young men have filed sexual misconduct lawsuits against the popular Bishop and his 10,000 seat New Birth Missionary Baptist church.
The lawsuits allege the Bishop sent them provocative pictures, money and lavish gifts to the then teenagers, while having sex with the young men.
Spencer LeGrande, 22, Jamal Parris, 23, Anthony Flagg, 21, and Maurice Robinson, 20, all filed suits alleging Long coerced them into sexual relationships when they were teenage members of his church.
Now, Bishop Long has filed an answer to all four lawsuits, claiming, in bold letters on the first page “the claims of sexual misconduct are not true.”
CLICK HERE to Read Long’s Response to LaGrande.
In all four of the law suits, Bishop Long admitted he was a mentor to a number of young men, trying to build stability in their lives. He admitted to traveling with the young men and at times sharing a room.
In an exclusive interview, Parris said the Bishop gave gifts, money, and support in exchange for sex and always wanted the young men to consider him their “daddy.”
“You finally have a father that you’ve always wanted for and always dreamed of. He would just walk away from you if you don’t give him what he wants. So you end up turning into something you never thought you would be, which is now a slave to a man that you love,” said Parris.
In the lawsuit, Long admitted young men in the church called him “daddy” or sometimes “granddaddy” and he specifically denied in every lawsuit that he ever had sex with any of the four young men.
To make matters worse, a fifth lawsuit was filed by a woman who’s suing New Birth Ministries for sexual harassment. Tamara Colson, claims that a male supervisor of the church showed her pictures of male genitals without her consent, and the church did nothing when she complained. When she asked for a transfer she said she was demoted to a secretary, and eventually fired.
The lawsuit filed by Colson also claimed that New Birth church was aware of previous sexual harassments incidences between the male supervisors and other female employees but decided not to take action.
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Influenced by a wide range of vocalists from Donny Hathaway to Fred Hammond to John Mayer, singer and songwriter Brian Courtney Wilson has an up-to-date 21st century approach to modern gospel that might be termed “urban inspirational.” Wilson, a University of Illinois graduate, began singing formally in the university’s black chorus, then continued singing on his own time while working as a pharmaceutical salesman for seven years. Then, in a leap of faith, he walked away from his job and became the music director at St. John’s Downtown Church in Houston, where he was mentored by and became friends with Rudy Rasmus. Through Rasmus he met label owner and music mogul Mathew Knowles, who signed Wilson to his Spirit Rising / Music World imprint. Recorded in Jackson, MS and produced by Stan Jones, Wilson’s inspirationally themed debut album, Just Love, appeared in 2009.