Eddie Long's accusers plan to release book

Two of the men who accused megachurch pastor Eddie Long of sexual misconduct plan to release a book about their experiences.

Long quietly settled out of court with Spencer LeGrande and Jamal Parris, both in their early 20s, along with two other young men.

But now the pair plan to write a book exposing the gory details of their claims, according to CNN Atlanta.

Parris said: “It's just not enough anymore. I thought I could cover the pain up. I thought I could move, start over and everything will go away. I was terribly wrong.”

The young men said can no longer keep quiet, and they are approaching the book project as part of the healing process.

"You ain't ready for the secrets,” Parris said. “I don't care if this book sells one copy. But if it's just for me, this is what my life looked like, this is my voice for the first time.”

After the lawsuits were filed against him, Long told his congregation he felt like David against Goliath. But LaGrande said that he and Parris are the Davids.

“Ten years of details, each person,” LeGrande said. “It's gonna be a book full of 'wow's' and 'ahh's' and 'Oh my Gods'."

The lawsuits claimed Long has "a pattern and practice of singling out a select group of young male church members and using his authority as bishop over them to ultimately bring them to a point of engaging in a sexual relationship."

Long, who oversees the 25,000-member New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, says he is innocent of the charges against him.

“Unfortunately, we are in the media again and people are wondering what I am going to say,” Long says.

“All I have to say is what we stated earlier. All parties involved decided to resolve the civil cases out of court. The decision was made to bring closure to this matter and allow us to move forward with the plans God has for this ministry.”

Long vowed to “continue to honour and abide by my commitment of confidentiality and restraint as it relates to the resolution of the civil litigation and will not be diverted from the important work of the ministry”.
News
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster
Richard Moth appointed as new Archbishop of Westminster

Bishop Richard Moth has been confirmed as the new Archbishop of Westminster, the most senior post in the Catholic Church in England and Wales. 

The mystery of the Wise Men
The mystery of the Wise Men

The carol assures us that “We three kings of Orient are…” and tells us they were “following yonder star”. Can we be sure there were three of them? Were they kings? Where in the Orient were they from? What was the star they followed? In fact, there is a lot that we just do not know. This is the story …

English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day

English Heritage has admitted it got it wrong when it shared false claims that the date of Christmas is derived from a pagan Roman festival in honour of a sun god.

Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'
Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'

Pam Knowles started helping out her church Sunday school in 1951 at the age of 13.