Christ First Forum

http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/09/21/geo ... tml?hpt=C1

(CNN) -- Two Georgia men have filed a lawsuit claiming that prominent Atlanta, Georgia, pastor Eddie Long coerced them into sex.

The suits, filed Tuesday in DeKalb County, Georgia, allege that Long used his position as a spiritual authority and bishop to coerce young male members and employees of his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church into sex.

ATLANTA -- A fourth young male member of Bishop Eddie Long'smegachurch says the prominent pastor coerced him into a sexual relationship.

Attorney B.J. Bernstein says she is filing a lawsuit Friday on behalf of Spencer LeGrande, a member of New Birth Charlotte, a satellite church run by Long in Charlotte, N.C.

READ: Spencer LeGrande lawsuit, Other Lawsuits

The suit says LeGrande first approached Long after a moving sermon on absentee fathers in May 2005. "When Plaintiff LeGrande approached Defendant Long, Defendant Long hugged Plaintiff LeGrande and Plaintiff LeGrande began to cry," the complaint says. "Defendant Long held on to Plaintiff LeGrande and assured him, 'I got you', 'I will be your dad'."

The lawsuit says Long told then 16-year-old Legrande to call him Dad, and as their relationship developed "Defendant Long would become angry if Plaintiff LeGrande failed to call Plaintiff Long on a frequent basis."

The complaint says the bishop took LeGrande on several overseas trips, where Long would pay for expensive dinners, shopping sprees and engage the teen in sexual activities.

At one point LeGrande says the bishop bought him a car and encouraged LeGrande to move to Atlanta, where the sexual activity allegedly continued until early 2009.

The other three men who filed lawsuits this week were also teenage members of Long's church when they claim Long abused his spiritual authority to seduce them as well.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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