6A
NEWS / MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2010 / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / KANSAN.COM
RELIGION
Bishop fights accusations of luring four men
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LITHONIA, Ga. — Casting himself as the Bible's ultimate underdog, Bishop Eddie Long went before thousands of faithful supporters at his megachurch Sunday and promised to fight accusations that he lured four young men into sexual relationships.
"I feel like David against Goliath. But I got five rocks, and I haven't thrown one yet," Long said in his first public remarks since his accusers filed lawsuits last week claiming he abused the "spiritual authority." He stopped short of denying the allegations but implied he was wronged by them.
"I have never in my life portrayed myself as a perfect man. But
I am not the man that's being portrayed on the television. That's not me. That is not me," he said.
Long's brief addresses to the congregation at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church were met with thunderous applause and an outpouring of support during services that were equal parts part rock concert and pep rally. The sanctuary was nearly filled to its 10,000-seat capacity for both the 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. Many lined up two hours before the doors of the church opened.
Long became one of the country's most powerful independent church leaders over the last 20 years, turning a suburban Atlanta congregation of 150 to a 25,000-member powerhouse with a $50 million ca
thedral and a roster of parishioners that includes athletes, entertainers and politicians. And there was almost no sign Sunday that his flock wanted to turn him away.
Followers prayed, sang and embraced one another as they rallied around their senior pastor. Wearing a cream-colored suit as he strode into the church sanctuary hand-in-hand with his wife, Vanessa, Long paused to soak in the adoration.
During the second service, however, one young man in a blue shirt stood up and shouted: "We want to know the truth, man!" He was quickly escorted out and did not return.
After the service, many expressed unwavering support for their leader.
University of Kansas
Fall 2010 Blood Drive
A Tradition of Saving Lives SEPT.27-OCT.1
Community Blood Center
Monday, September 27
Kansas Union Ballroom,11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Oliver Hall, 2 p.m.-7 p.m.
Kansas Heine, Blood Vessel, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tuesday, September 28
Kansas Union, Blood Vessel, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Wednesday. September 29
Tuesday, September 28
Kansas Union Ballroom, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Hashinger Hall, 2-7 p.m.
Kansas Union Blood Hospital, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Kansas Union Ballroom, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Kappa Delta Sorority, 3-8 p.m.
Kansas Union, Blood Vessel, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Thursday, September 30
Kansas Union Ballroom, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
McCollum Hall, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. p.m.
McCullum Hill 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Kansas Union, Donor Coach, 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Student Recreation Center, Blood Vessel, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Friday, October 1
Kansas Union Ballroom, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
GSP Hall, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Phi Kappa Psi, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Kansas Union, Donor Coach, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Student Recreation Center, Blood Vessel, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Free KU T-shirt to all presenting donors Sponsored by Blood Drive Committee
"We know and we love Bishop," said Annie Cannon, a seven-year member of New Birth. "We love our place of worship. My son goes to school here. We do everything here."
Visit us at www.kublooddrive.com
It is unclear whether Long faces any risk of being removed by his church's board, but the allegations at the very least guarantee months of scrutiny as the lawsuits move forward.
Long is a father of four who has been an outspoken opponent of gay marriage and whose church has counseled gay members to become straight. Two young men say he groomed them for sexual relationships when they were en-
runs in the church's Long-
Fellows Youth
Academy, a program that taught teens about sexual and financial discipline. Two other men — one of whom attended a satellite
he said. "The righteous face painful situations with a determined expectancy. We are not exempt from pain, but (God) promises to deliver us out of our pain."
The men say they were 17 or 18 when the relationships began. Federal and state authorities have declined to investigate because Georgia's age of consent is 16.
"I've been accused. I'm under attack. I want you to know, as I said earlier, I am not a perfect man," Long said. "But this thing, I'm going to fight."
"I feel like David against Goliath. But I got five rocks, and I haven't thrown one yet."
church in Charlotte, N.C. — have similar claims.
Cheryl Barnett, who has attended New Birth since Long became senior pastor more than 20 years ago, said she was "very much fulfilled with what he had to say."
Long did not address the allegations directly but spoke at length about enduring painful times. He used the word "painful" nearly 20 times. The term "difficult" came up seven times.
"It was simple. It was direct. He's standing in the scriptures. That's what we would expect from our minister," she said.
"We are all subject to face distasteful and painful situations. Bishop Long, Eddie Long — you can put your name in that blank — will have some bad situations."
Long addressed the media briefly during a press conference between services, but media access to the services themselves was tightly controlled. Reporters were
required to check in with church officials and were led to a separate part of the church to view the service. The media was also told not to interview church members inside the sanctuary or on
EDDIE LONG Bishop
church property.
After Long's remarks during the 8 a.m. service, an Associated Press reporter was escorted out of the sanctuary by church officials who said the press were not allowed in the sanctuary during worship.
Members clapped and swayed in their seats as the first service began, with several people with microphones singing on stage. Later in the service, hundreds began dancing and chanting, "Jesus, Jesus." A small group of young people held Apple iPads high over their heads, with the screens scrolling white letters against a black background reading, "It's time to praise him."
As Long entered the cathedral, a group of people shouted, "We love you bishop!"
These days, it pays to have someone watching your back. That's what you'll get serving part-time in the Air Guard an entire team of like-minded individuals who want to help you get ahead. In the Air Guard you can develop the high-tech skills you need to compete in today's world. You can choose from nearly 200 career specialties, with the chance to work on advanced computers, networks and electronics even state-of-the-art aircraft and satellites. You'll also serve close to home. All while receiving a steady paycheck, benefits and tuition assistance Most important, you will experience the satisfaction that comes from serving your community and your country. Talk to a recruiter today, and see how the Air Guard can help you succeed.
Money for college. Career training And an entire team to help you succeed.
PART-TIME BLUE. FULL-TIME YOU.
GoANG.com ▶ 1-800-TO-GO-ANG
PRESENTED BY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ODD NEWS
Man lashes out at Elmo performer
Police in central Florida say a man dressed as the "Sesame Street" character was attacked Saturday at a music store in Winter Park, but he was able to fend off the attacker.
The performer fought back, even breaking a few fingers on his attacker's hand.
WINTER PARK, Fla. — Elmo was not tickled — he was in a tussle.
Police haven't released the names of either man. Officers broke up the fight and took the attacker to the hospital, where he was treated and detained for a mental health evaluation. Police say Elmo was unhurt, and that no children saw the fight.
The fight broke out around 3 p.m. The costumed man had been hired to perform as Elmo at a children's event at Guitar Center, but police say the attacker began throwing punches at Elmo.
Woman steals car drives handcuffed
PORT ARTHUR, Texas — A handcuffed woman was accused of swiping a Port Arthur police car and leading officers on a chase at speeds topping 100 mph. Police Chief Mark Blanton told KFDM-TV that nobody was injured in Friday's chase involving a woman arrested on a trespassing charge at the Port Arthur campus of Lamar State College.
Blanton said a witness told police that the woman managed to slide open the prisoner screen that separates the front and rear areas of the patrol car, crawling from the rear seat into the driver's seat. The officer was outside the running vehicle, completing his investigation.
The chase lasted about 10 miles on Highway 69 until the patrol car's tires were shredded by spike strips thrown on the road by other officers.
Port Arthur is 80 miles east of Houston.
It's become a costly problem. County Manager Luther Smart says the area is paying $17,000 a year to replace the signs.
DARIEN, Ga. — A rural Georgia county is losing about 550 street signs a years to thieves and a commissioner says he has a solution: Make the names boring.
Then there's the stolen signs for Harmony Hill. Douglas figures the thieves just like the alliteration.
Mcntosh County Commissioner Mark Douglas serves a rural county about 60 miles south of Savannah. He says signs marking Green Acres, Boone's Farm and Mary Jane Lane are frequently stolen.
He suspects the thieves are targeting those signs because they share names with a popular TV series, a low-cost wine or, in the third case, a slang term for marijuana.
Sign thieves cost county thousands
Man paints body to prevent tasing
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — A Cheyenne man who doused himself with white latex paint in hopes of avoiding a police Taser was hit with the stun gun anyway.
On Sept. 16 Cheyenne police went to Brian Mattert's house on a domestic violence call. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reports that when police arrived, Mattert thought they'd use a Taser on him, so he hastily covered himself in paint and told officers that if they shot him with the stun gun, he'd die.
According to police, Mattert scuffled with officers and was hit with a Taser twice before officers handcuffed him.
Associated Press