Bishop Eddie Bling Long: "I'm not long but I am thick"

Bishop's empire hangs in the balance amid allegations he had sex with 3 young men:

ATLANTA — Bishop Eddie Long built his congregation into a megachurch empire, telling his followers God wanted them to be wealthy and delivering fiery sermons with a secular swagger. But that empire hangs in the balance amid accusations he had sexual relationships with three young men.

On Sunday mornings, Long is usually draped in regal robes and dripping with diamonds and platinum — the kind of material rewards he often says are in God's plan for those listening. He hangs with celebrities like rapper T.I. and donates money to charities and candidates. Even the county sheriff is among his followers.

Long spent more than 20 years building all that up. And his 25,000 followers aren't about to let it all come tumbling down after the three men filed lawsuits claiming the bishop abused his spiritual authority.
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He's preached against gay marriage, and his church has counseled gay members to become straight — even though the men claim in their lawsuits that Long used money, cars, international trips, jewelry and other objects to lure them into sexual relationships when they were 17 or 18 years old.
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Today, New Birth operates more than 40 ministries. The centerpiece of its campus is the $50-million New Birth Cathedral, which opened in 2001 and seats 10,000.

Meanwhile Ted Haggard opines:

The Rev. Ted Haggard, who resigned in 2006 from the Colorado Springs, Colo., megachurch he founded after a Denver man accused him of paying for sex, said it's better in the long run for Long and his church that the three accusers have filed lawsuits.

Haggard said courts are better than internal church bodies at establishing whether such accusations are truthful.

"At least there will be an orderly process and due process, which is a gift," said Haggard, who has recently started a new church.

Ted Haggard and Eddie Long:

Ted Haggard is a strong Republican. Eddie Long is a staunch Democrat and was quoted as saying after Barack Obama won the 2008 Presidential election, "This is a century of prayers answered."
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So now, we have two "Men of God" who have sent a message. (By the way, these men aren't Catholic in case you're one of those who thinks the Catholic faith are the only ones in the wrong these days). That message has made them millions of dollars (By the way, Long was accused of stealing over $3 million from his charities three years ago) is that homosexuality is wrong. They have ranted and raved from pulpits across the country how two men or two women loving each other in a sexual fashion is against God's will and people have signed over their checking accounts to these individuals. And now, amidst this evil rhetoric that so many have followed, the one man, the white man, the Republican, was actually gay. The other man, the black man, the Democrat, may have been coercing sex with teenage boys in his congregation and may be gay himself.

Talk about going on the down-low! (Down-low is an African-American slang term which refers to a subculture of men who usually identify as heterosexual, but who have sex with men.)

PS This is probably all about deep pockets - as were many of the Catholic priest scandals. The bishop's young men were all of the age of consent and the bishop gave them sports-cars, Caribbean vacations and lots of bling and ka-ching.

"I promise you it won't hurt. It's not that long but it is thick. About this fat round..."