Comments on: Homophobic Megachurch Pastor Accused of Exploiting Teenage Boys

By: operationW/BACK

operationW/BACK — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:19:51 +0000

I always knew that Bishop Long was not straight. From the first day I say him, I said to myself: something is missing in this guy. The image he was projecting on the pulpit left a lot of questions unanswered about his sexuality.

There is nothing wrong with being gay. There is something wrong with being a hypocrite like Bishop-I-like-to-sleep- with-young-men-Long.

I just viewed the word hypocrite on the dictionary and Bishop Long’s picture was used as an illustration.

By: Ruslan Amirkhanov

Ruslan Amirkhanov — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 20:21:58 +0000

The thing is that the prohibition against homosexuality is a part of the old Jewish law. Why follow some parts and not others? And are you really going to compare homosexuality or even pre-marital hetero sex to murder and thievery?

And if you want my personal recommendation(which I rarely give)- I would say stop believing in ancient primitive mythology and live life in reality. If you say the Bible bans homosexuality one could just as easily claim that Zeus sanctions it. What is the difference?

By: Mike

Mike — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 17:28:02 +0000

Rusian,

It’s been my observation that the charge of “picking and choosing” is directly related to the general acceptance of a moral issue. Christians aren’t usually accused of “picking and choosing” with issues like murder, theft, incest or bestiality.

I also notice the “Golden Rule” is in Lev. 19:18 — right before the linen/woolen garment prohibition. Is it antiquated? Or am I picking and choosing if I try to live by it? Or should I even care, since it was compiled by a committee of men and is subject to numerous translations and interpretations?

Regards

By: Ruslan Amirkhanov

Ruslan Amirkhanov — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 06:17:48 +0000

Mike I think you are missing the point. The Bible permits many things which are now rightfully seen as abhorrent, and forbids things which are trivial, such as wearing mixed materials, eating shellfish, working on the Sabbath, and so on. The point is that Christians pick and choose which laws they are going to follow. All from a book that has gone through thousands of translations and interpretations, and was originally compiled by a committee of men.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 16:49:33 +0000

Karen,

You’re the one who’s missing the point. You’re using the same, lame argument that gay supporters use to try to equate homosexuality with linen/woolen garments.

Leviticus chapter 19 mentions linen/woolen garments along with stealing (11) and child prostitution (29). Does that make stealing and child prostitution antiquated?

Just because different things are mentioned in the same book or chapter doesn’t necessarily put them on the same moral level with God. Even Jesus spoke about certain commandments being more important than others (Matt 23:16-19, 23).

Homosexuality is still called a sin in the New Testament, along with murder and stealing, but linen/woolen garments aren’t mentioned. The linen/woolen garment prohibition is antiquated, not homosexuality.

Regards

By: Jessica

Jessica — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:03:03 +0000

It is disgusting to see so many people react the way they are. So much hate! The point is, we don’t know if its true or not. If the charges are accurate then how awful for the boys involved but there is another side to this. Megachurch = megabucks… Some people just want money. Bottom line is all of these people involved need prayers not more hate. Stop attacking- and I say this from both sides of the arguement. We weren’t there. We don’t know what happened. God knows and will deal with the guilty party according to His will.

By: Sam Molloy

Sam Molloy — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 22:08:11 +0000

At the Presbyterian chuch I attend, gay people are warmly welcomed and we believe the evidence shows that Jesus felt the same way.

By: Mason Green

Mason Green — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 19:38:17 +0000

And then, Long should try reading this article about Bean: http://www.westendrecords.com/WES5014-2/about.html

By: Mason Green

Mason Green — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 19:20:25 +0000

Perhaps Bishop Eddie Long should try listening to this song from the 70s, which was written and performed by Bishop Carl Bean:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_O0vRdk2D4

By: Walt

Walt — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 11:52:59 +0000

The story says he took these young men – who were minors at the time even is over the age of consent in their home state – on trips with him – crossing state lines (allegedly) in order to have sex with them – would the Mann Act apply?

By: Ruslan Amirkhanov

Ruslan Amirkhanov — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:52:14 +0000

Look conservatives and Christians and what have you. Many religions today still look down on or forbid homosexuality. Islam, Orthodox Judaism, Tibetan Buddhism, for example. Most people are fine with the concept of live and let live- don’t try to infringe on the basic rights of gays and they won’t demand that your religion change its doctrine. But the issue here is those who seem to make it their mission in life to crusade against gays, and then almost inevitably turn out to be gay themselves(and how often do they even own up to that?).

By: Marty

Marty — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 18:27:30 +0000

Ok, let’s fill in some other facts. In news broadcasts on MSNBC it was revealed that the “pastor” started “grooming” these young men long before they were 16. Many of the gifts and trips were before they reached the age of consent. It was only when they turned 16 that the “pastor’s” advances became overtly sexual.
This, as was pointed out, is a pre-meditated crime that pedophiles use to avoid criminal prosecution. So, Snorlax was right, as usual.

By: Mary D

Mary D — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:25:25 +0000

Dick Lancaster said “Thank God there are superior white, straight people to look out for these victims. After all, they could never take care of themselves on their own.”
Really, Dick? I hope you’re being sarcastic, otherwise, that would mean you come only come on here and read the stories so you can convince yourself and others of your “superiority” – how lame.

By: Fred

Fred — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:19:28 +0000

I get the impression that every hate-filled Christian is someone with a mental problem, a crook, a criminal, something very wrong with them — and almost always a Republican when a United States crook.

By: Ruslan Amirkhanov

Ruslan Amirkhanov — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 16:59:28 +0000

Oh goodie, the politically illiterate Dick is back!!! Please explain for us, Dick, how you came to the following conclusion:

Black guy attacks gays = Black people are anti-gay.

Show your work.

By: Mason Green

Mason Green — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 01:15:40 +0000

The white supremacists over at The Political Cesspool are already exploiting this story to advance their own cause: http://www.thepoliticalcesspoo.....lamboyant/

This, of course, is blatantly hypocritical of them. Have they forgotten about all the white religious leaders who have gotten into trouble for the exact same thing? Ted Haggard, Tony Alamo, the pedophile Catholic priests (nearly all of whom were white, and many are European as well), Warren Jeffs, George Alan Rekers and Jimmy Swaggart all come to mind; how many more can you name? Clergy sexual scandals aren’t a “black” thing at all.

By: Mason Green

Mason Green — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 01:05:19 +0000

Snorlax,

The age of consent in Georgia is 16, which means that what he did wasn’t pedophilia, at least not according to Georgia law. That doesn’t mean he won’t be in legal trouble, though; he could still be found guilty of sexual harassment if it turns out he used his position of authority to pressure them into sex.

By: Donna

Donna — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:47:41 +0000

Its time for these religious organizations to pay taxes like all businesses. This tax free crap has got to end!

By: Marisa

Marisa — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 21:12:11 +0000

Bishop Eddie Long has long been known as homophobic. WAY, WAY too many of those who preach homophobia are revealed to have committed homosexual acts. That means that when that’s revealed, THEY are revealed as hypocrites. I am a straight person with many gay friends. They are wonderful people. The church I was raised in (Mormon) worked hard to defeat gay marriage in California and Arizona, To me, that was inexcusable – to deprive a group of their civil rights in the United States of America. Homophobia should not be tolerated in any way, shape, or form – by ANYONE, including the military, churches, you name it!!!!!

By: Snorlax

Snorlax — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 20:44:05 +0000

If these guys were minors when the minister had his way with them, that means he’s not gay…he’s a pedophile.

Pedophilia and homosexuality are not the same thing and do not even overlap. They are completely seperate things.

This wouldn’t be the first man of the cloth to go chasing the altarboys and won’t be the last. I think we will see more of them from the conservative megachurches.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 18:21:57 +0000

Jeff,

You are missing the point. The Bible, particularly the old Testament, says that all kinds of things are sinful that most people now consider antiquated. The fact is that the Deuteronomy reference to homosexuality is one of a long list of don’ts, such as not wearing linen and wool together. What is happening with the virulently anti gay “religious” movement is that such scriptures are used selectively in order to stigmatize gays and lesbians. Slavery is approved of in the Bible, but we don’t practice it because it is wrong. Same thing here. The label is accurate.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:24:44 +0000

I don’t know the facts of the case and these comments do not condone the actions that he has been charged with and I haven’t heard this guy’s sermons on the issue of Homosexuality. BUT I think that an organization whose goal is to avoid hate and prejudice should be a little careful with labels. If he merely reiterates the Bible’s teaching that homosexuality is sinful then I think the label is incorrect.

By: Dick Lancaster

Dick Lancaster — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 17:13:00 +0000

Good gosh! The SPLC must be racking its brain. Its two most beloved victims, blacks and gays are under attack from members of its two most beloved oppressed groups, blacks and gays.

Thank God there are superior white, straight people to look out for these victims. After all, they could never take care of themselves on their own.

By: legalhound

legalhound — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 16:37:03 +0000

So many of these self-righteous homophobic jerks have turned out to be gay themselves. I am beginning to think that it is the rule rather than the exception. The more anti-gay a politician is the more boyfriends he has in his closet. The louder a preacher condemns greed the more money he’s pocketing, the louder he complains about judging people the more groups he condemns in his sermons. And the more he condemns gay people the more gay sex he’s getting behind the scenes.
We now live in opposite world folks. We’ve put up with the junk these hypocrites tell us for so long that words no longer hold their meaning, everything has turned upside down.
I am not happy about this lawsuit, but at the same time it may be the exact wake up call this Bishop needs. People who profess to be men of God need to really remember that what they have done with all of their condemnation and hate spewing is shrink God instead. That is the worst thing they could do-belittle God -God is so much bigger than any one religion has managed to muster. God very well may be too big for one religion to have a monopoly. Hopefully this Bishop will learn that gay folks are people too and as such they are still children of God and are entitled to our love and support rather than our malice – and maybe he’ll figure out that he’s human too.

By: skinnyminny

skinnyminny — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:47:52 +0000

As a black female (one-drop rule qualifies as black), I will not vouch for this guy. I have been saying all along that churches need to lose their tax-exempt status. I’ve complained all along that these churches receive yachts, private planes, homes, jewelry and other property through ‘wills,’ donations…I haven’t seen or heard of one church that have given or sold any assets to help the poor.

People need to realize that anyone can be a pastor, anyone can open a church, i.e. Joe Stack that flew a plane into gov. buildings, Ted Haggard (if that’s the correct spelling) used meth and male prostitutes.

I’ve read on a blog, I think it was called Dominican Republic Today, and I think it was young adults from YWAM that wrote and complained that, they were in the Dominican Republic on a mission, that they (the young adults) were forced to eat food that was donated while the group leaders were eating lobsters and driving around in fancy cars.

And now back to O’Donnell, she preaches abstinence, but it is reported she’s had numerous boyfriends. And I am thinking no one remembers the Salem Witch Trials.

It appears that churches are teaching hate, greed, selfishness, violence and instructing people who to vote for in elections.

But, a little piece inside of me is also wondering if this is politically and racially-motivated. I have noticed in the past year, the media and right-wing have been targeting successful/famous/popular/rich black people. They have verbally beaten Tiger Woods to a pulp. Singer Fantasia was kicked while she was already down. They have verbally attacked Pres. Obama and crippled his policies by saying “no.” And last, they set up and destroyed Acorn in order to win elections.

Is this minister guilty? More than likely. I believe that we have put the churches on a pedestal – more so with the Faith-Based Initiatives from the previous commander in chief.