The Short of Eddie Long

Whether fueled by the love of money, material goods, food or sex, greed continues to emerge as America’s worst addiction. Wide-mouthed gasps rippled through the black community yesterday when CNN plastered Bishop Eddie Long’s picture in association with same sex allegations. One parishioner said on an ABC camera that it couldn’t be true because Long loves his wife to death. Realistically, what does the love for a woman have to do with the simultaneous lust for a man? Nothing. Absolutely nothing since the down low affliction runs rampant in heterosexual black male circles.

Although Long’s sexuality will naturally come into question and the anti-gay minister, of course, will vehemently deny the charges, the prevailing issue is power. This isn’t the first time that New Birth Missionary Baptist Church’s Mega pastor has faced scandal – Long was investigated in 2007 by the US Senate for financial impropriety.

None of us are positioned to automatically stamp guilt to Long’s blown-up forehead, but perhaps, presiding over a 25,000 member mega church, tooling around town in a $350,000 Bentley and living it up in a McMansion aren’t enough. Furthermore, the accusers weren’t complaining when the perks were rolling in but now that they’ve stopped, a lawsuit surfaces. American Greed is the new American Dream.   

See related links:  

http://www.metroweekly.com/news/last_word/

http://www.blackvoices.com/black_news/canvas_directory_headlines_features/_a/bishop-eddie-long-biggest-beneficiary-of/20050830143809990001.