Associated Press-Bishop Eddie Long Accused Of Molesting Boys

Atlanta, GA based Bishop Eddie Long: Gene Blythe/AP

(Story reported by Errin Haines for the Associated Press)

ATLANTA — Two men have filed a lawsuit accusing Bishop Eddie Long of exploiting his role as pastor of an Atlanta-area megachurch to coerce them into sexual relationships when they were young members of his congregation.

Lawyers for the men, now 20 and 21, say they filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in DeKalb County Court. The Associated Press generally does not identify people who say they were victims of sexual impropriety.

Craig Gillen, Long's attorney, said Tuesday the pastor "categorically denies the allegations."

"We find it unfortunate that these two young men would take this course of action," Gillen said, adding that Long had not yet been served with copies of the lawsuits.

The men were 17- and 18-year-old members of Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, when they say Long abused his spiritual authority to seduce them with with cars, money, clothes, jewelry, international trips and access to celebrities.

B.J. Bernstein, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said that when the relationships started, the plaintiffs were past the legal age of consent in Georgia, which is 15.

"Defendant Long has utilized his spiritual authority to coerce certain young male members ... into engaging in sexual acts and relationships for his own personal sexual grafitication," the lawsuits read.

When asked about a possible motive for the accusations, Gillen referred to a break-in at Long's office in June.

Bergstein said one of the plaintiffs is facing a criminal burglary charge in the incident. She said the break-in was a way of lashing out at Long.

Bernstein said she contacted the U.S. Attorney's Office earlier this month when she became aware of the young men's allegations. She did not know what action, if any, the agency planned to take. 

(Click here to read the full story on the Associated Press website.)