Homophobic minister Eddie Long settled out of court to resolve four men's accusations that he coerced them into sexual relationships. As always with Long and his ilk, money makes the world go 'round.
Much of the coverage surrounding Pastor Long's sex scandal has revolved around the allegations' gay angles, and with good reason: an anti-gay preacher man bedding young men qualifies as a hypocrisy of Biblical proportions. But the Long scandal is about far more than just sex. It's about one of America's other favorite pastimes: capitalism.
Long's political and cultural prominence are founded on a trifecta of popular concepts: Christianity, conservatism and capitalism. As he was cultivating ties to the right wing, including George W. Bush, and social conservatives who were eager to celebrate Long's gospel against gay marriage, Long was also exhorting a religion that blends Biblical scripture with bank statements, a movement called the prosperity ministry.
According to such gospels, those who believe in God — or, more specifically, believe that Jesus saves — will be rewarded with earthly delights, but only if they donate to their church and its pastors, a racket that allowed Long to rake in dough while peddling illusory salvation.
It's that very money, an undisclosed amount, that Long has now used to sweep away claims that he used his influence and texted muscle pictures to coax four separate men into compromising positions.
Of course Long would never make such an admission. His cowardly demeanor doesn't allow such things, even though he told his congregation at Georgia's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church that he would fight the charges and has now gone back on his word, preferring instead to hide behind dollar bills.
Turns out the Benjamins are more powerful than the truth, justice and even super-powered Jesus.
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