IN THE SAGA "AS THE CHURCH TURNS?" EDDIE LONG 2.0
Bishop Eddie Long: ‘This thing I'm going to fight'
TIME LINE!
Bishop Eddie Long faced his congregation and the media this morning for 20 minutes to address allegations he took advantage, sexually, of young men who at the time were looking to the preacher for friendship and guidance. Below is a live, minute-by-minute report by AJC reporters and photographers at the church. See photos here.
9 a.m. Long is in. Big response from congregation.
9:23 a.m. Long spoke to the congregation for about 20 minutes. He did not specifically deny accusations, but he made it clear he would fight the allegations he took advantage, sexually, of young men who at the time were looking to the preacher for friendship and guidance. Long acknowledged the media and perhaps others who were tuning into the service, either live on TV or from the live stream from the church's website. "Good morning to all our other guests," he said. "... I do want to remind. We’re here today and every Sunday morning. And I’ll be here next week."
9:22 a.m. "I am not going to try this case in the media, it will be tried in the court of justice and decided in the court of justice. Please hear this: I’ve been accused. I’m under attack. I want you to know as I said earlier I am not a perfect man. ... But this thing I’m going to fight. I feel like David against Goliath, but I’ve got five rocks and I haven’t thrown one yet."
9:21 a.m. "I have never in my life portrayed myself as a perfect man, but I am not the man being portrayed on television That’s not me. That is not me."
9:11 a.m. This is also live on Channel 2 Action News TV and web cast from New Birth.
9:10 a.m. More from Long: "This is difficult for everybody. This is probably the most diffucilt time in my life. Want to talk to you about how to handle painful and difficult situations. And start with scripture from Psalms 34:19. Y'all did know I was going to use my Bible today. I was just going to take a few moments. But I gotta talk to my family." Long reads: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord dilevers him out of all of them. Above all this church, the church of the living God and all that is precious and holy at this moment."
9:08 a.m. More from Long: "My first responsibility is to my family.This an extremely difficult time for me and for my family. It’s extremely difficult for you. [People] called you and asked you questions. You aint never got this many phone calls in your life. It’s a time when you see the veil dropped and you see who’s with you and who’s not with you. As a pastor I want to help everybody. "
9:07 a.m. "This is an extremely difficult time for me." "... a time when you actually see the veil dropped and you see who's with you."
9 a.m. Long is at the podium. He takes off his glasses. Waits for applause. Walks around. Waits. Music kicks in. A good two minutes now gone by. "Good morning new birth. Good morning to all our other guests. And I would be remiss not to say good morning to the rest of the world. I do want to remind. We’re here today and every Sunday morning. And I’ll be here next week. First of all let me thank you on behalf on my wife my family for all of your support and prayers. We are certainly humbled by such a loving congregation. I realize many have been waiting on me to say something."
Well don't you think he should have done thins from the jump? *shrugs* HOWEVER I'm kinda puzzled by this statement from The Bishop
"I have never in my life portrayed myself as a perfect man.......And we never said you were perfect!
"I have never in my life portrayed myself as a perfect man.......And we never said you were perfect!
Still developing!
SHOCK THERAPY:CNN Anchor Don Lemon: "I Was A Victim Of A Pedophile"
CNN anchor Don Lemon made a very personal admission about being sexually abused as a child during his
CNN anchor Don Lemon made a very personal admission about being sexually abused as a child during his
newscast Sat night. The admission came on the heels of Don discussing the sexual abuse cases against Bishop Eddie Long with three members of Long’s church who support him. After playing a soundbite from the lawyer of one of Long’s accusers, Lemon said:
"Let me tell you what got my attention about this and I have never admitted this on television. I’m a victim of a pedophile when I was a kid. Someone who was much older than me."
Lemon’s admission shocked his guests. And the soon-to-be 44 year old admitted he didn't even tell his mother until he was 30:
“I’ve never admitted that on television and I never told my mom until I was 30 years old. Especially African-American men don’t want to talk about those things.”
CNN viewers took to his Facebook page to show their support. Lemon replied, “Thank you all for your kind words. I had no idea I’d say that on national TV. It just came out. Sadly it’s the truth for so many young men.”
Don is very brave to make such an admission on television. But if one young man was helped by Don's actions, it was worth it.
God Bless Him!
God Bless Him!
SPEAK ON IT PEOPLE!