Bishop Eddie Long, for the first time since three men sued him alleging sexual coercion, issued his first public statement Thursday regarding the allegations.
"I have been through storms and my faith has always sustained me," Long said in a statement issued by his spokesman.
In separate lawsuits filed in DeKalb County this week, the three men allege that Long coerced them into sexual relations. They said they were taken on trips, given cars and put on the payroll. They are seeking a trial by jury and unspecified damages.
He called the charges against him and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church " false."
"I have devoted my life to helping others and these false allegations hurt me deeply," he said. "But my faith is strong and the truth will emerge. All is ask is for your patience as we continue to categorically deny each and every one of these ugly charges."
B.J. Bernstein, who represents the three men, could not be reached for comment. A woman who answered the phone at her office said Bernstein would not comment on Long's statement.
Also, on Thursday, Long's attorney, Craig Gillen, took to the air to defend his client against the charges that his used his pastoral influence to coerce three men to have sex. Gillen was interviewed by Roland Martin for the syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show. Long was originally scheduled to be interviewed by Martin on Joyner's show, but Gillen pulled the plug on his appearance.
Gillen said the lawsuits have "ignited a firestorm against this good man." He said it was also an attack on New Birth, the congregation and its mentoring program. Gillen also appeared on the Frank and Wanda Morning Show.
On Wednesday, a spokesman for Long sent out an email that there would be a press conference on Thursday. That press conference was canceled.
Meanwhile, Long has apparently kept a low public profile. Several DeKalb County officials and members of his church who know him say they have not seen him for several days.
That doesn't mean, though, that the pastor is in hiding. "Of course not," said spokesman Art Franklin. "If they (people) feel that way, they will have a new perspective after Sunday."
Long is scheduled to address his congregation at that time. In his statement released earlier, Long said he was "anxious to respond directly to these false allegations and I will do so. However, my lawyers have counseled patience at this time."
Franklin would not say where Long has spent his time since the allegations emerged, nor would he say where Long was on Thursday.
Eugene P. Walker, a DeKalb County school board member and a friend of Long's for two decades, said he didn't have any problems with his silence. "The less said, the better," said Walker, a former state senator. "This needs to be dealt with in the appropriate forum" of a court of law, "not the media."
But Jeff Dickerson, president of Dickerson Communications, isn't sold on the strategy thus far.
Lawyers, he said, may understand the presumption of guilt or innocence in the courtroom, but may fall short when it comes to the court of public opinion.
"They start making decisions whether someone should hold a press conference or have radio interview and it can make the situation far worse for their clients," he said. "Eddie Long can win in a court of law and lose in the court of public opinion. His reputation can be permanently damaged and lawyers just don't get it. " He said it would have been good had Long come out earlier and very forcefully. "He needs to mount a public defense."
Stephen M. Brown, senior vice president of media strategy at MS & L’s Atlanta office, also believes Long was long overdue for in personally addressing the allegations.
"Folks wants to hear from him directly," he said. "Having a surrogate or lawyer speak on his behalf is a missed opportunity." Addressing the allegations on his home turf, though, is understandable. "He is certainly speaking to a friendly audience and base of supporters. It also gives him some artistic liberty to talk around the issue a little bit -- to invoke parables and anecdotes."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
