According to the lawsuit, Bishop Long used cars, clothes, jewelry, and electronics to entice the young men. Parris claims that Long would take him to his guest house and touched him in a sexual manner, which eventually led to oral sodomy and other acts of sexual gratification. The lawsuit states that Bishop Long used Scripture to justify his sexual acts.
Although Bishop Long remains innocent until proven guilty, the allegations are reminiscent of past religious leaders who have used their powers to abuse their members. The Catholic Church has developed a horrid reputation of sexual abuse against kids, and dozens of leaders of mega churches have used the Bible for financial gain.
But the members of these religious institutions should be held responsible for every child that is sexually abused and every faux preacher who robs them blindly. They mistakenly view their religious leaders as divine without taking the time to monitor their true behavior. Members trust the words of their leaders without examining their actions. As a result, religious leaders who desire to have sex with kids and are allowed to do so because of the unchecked power that has been bestowed upon them.
Bishop Long will get the chance to tell his side of the story in court. Whether he’s found innocent or guilty, each of his 25,000 members should take a deep look at themselves and the man in whom they’ve placed their trust. –a.r.
