Religion
Pieces of the sky did not fall and crash around America, but the heavens did rumble with indignant disapproval of what the shepherds were allegedly doing to the flock in 2011. Megachurch pastor Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in suburban Atlanta was embroiled in a sick assortment of scandals and legal entanglements in 2010-11 that forced at least a temporary moratorium from the pulpit. The most egregious was the fact that Long, 58, declaring he would “fight” the accusations of homosexual sex with minors, traded millions of dollars in exchange for his four male accusers’ court-ordered 
silence. Then, there was a steady stampede of misfortune that beset the embattled televangelist, including a lawsuit against Long and the church luring members into a shady business deal that squandered their life’s savings. The bottom fell out of Long’s ministry and his wife, Vanessa, 53, is now seeking permanent asylum from the madness.
Long was not alone, unfortunately. Televangelist Albert Odulele is serving about a year for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man in 2011. Vaughn Reeves will be holed up in prison for two consecutive six-year terms for defrauding 2,900 investors out of $13.1 million to finance a luxury lifestyle.
