EDDIE FINALLY SPEAKS

After being hit with sexual lawsuits by four young men, the bishop finally speaks via four filed lengthy responses maintaining that the sexual allegations are false.

Yesterday Bishop Eddie Long asked that the four lawsuits be dismissed and judgment be entered in his favor.

The suits claimed that the young men were coerced into having sex with Bishop Long in exchange for fancy gifts, trips, jobs and the chance to hobnob with celebrities. Each man claimed the bishop used biblical scriptures to justify their sexual interactions and he encouraged them to call him "Daddy."

In his responses, Bishop Long said it has been a practice of his to occasionally share a room with members of his congregation. And while he admitted to giving the plaintiffs gifts, including cars and money, it was not in exchange for sex. He said he "provided sporadic financial assistance," and he routinely pays for rent and other expenses for New Birth members in need. He added that "the plaintiff's claims of sexual misconduct are not true."

In his responses, each about 30 pages, Bishop Long denied each accusation point by point. He admitted that he took the men on trips, but he denied having sexual contact, though he did "hug" some of the men, which is common among his church congregation.

In the filings, the bishop admitted to speaking on the phone with the men, but said he could not recall who initiated the calls. He also admitted that the men called him "Daddy," "Bishop" and "Granddaddy," as do many members of his congregation.

Bishop Long responds to Anthony Flagg's lawsuit
Bishop Long responds to Spencer LeGrande's lawsuit
Bishop Long responds to Jamal Parris' lawsuit
Bishop Long responds to Maurice Robinson's lawsuit