Eddie Long Hospitalized: Controversial MegaChurch Bishop Denies Claim That Cancer Death Is Imminent
Eddie Long is denying reports that he is being treated for a terminal, Stage 4 gastrointestinal cancer. No stranger to controversy, the 63-year-old bishop, the head of the 25,000-member Georgia megachurch New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, unveiled a dramatic weight loss via Facebook one month ago.
According to Obnoxious Television, Long has been hospitalized in Atlanta since August 29. Citing an anonymous source within the bishop’s own church, who the site believe to be “very reliable,” the site reported that Long is believed to be suffering from late-stage cancer of his digestive system, which the site believes to also be the culprit for his drastic and sudden weight change.
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Long reached out to Atlanta station WSB-TV on Tuesday to dispel the rumors that he is near death.
“I am recovering from a health challenge that I trust God to deliver me from. It is unrelated to the eating for life diet consisting of mostly raw vegetables that I am continuing, as part of a holistic approach to good health.”
In addition, the executive administrator for New Birth Church spoke to Fox 5 Tuesday afternoon to deny reports that Long was in the hospital.
Although he went public with his new holistic, natural diet at the time of his weight loss reveal, Long dismissed claims that the diet itself is the cause of his recent “health challenge,” a statement that has further fueled the belief that he is gravely ill with a terminal disease.
Eddie Long credits a new diet for his weight loss. In his Facebook video, since removed, Long blames “eating from a slave menu” for his prior unhealthy state. Expressing his desire to “live to be 100 years old,” Long spoke in the video to his followers.
“I’m on the medicine that God gave you to feed your immune system to build you up. You know what, if you really want to move through this world and have influence, you gotta be spiritual and you have to walk by his commandments and you have to be healthy.”
Bishop Eddie Long speaks out about his health scare https://t.co/ZsFD52RMA4 pic.twitter.com/n4g0tV5MGt
— NewsOne (@newsone) September 6, 2016
Despite Long’s explanations, many of his followers were unconvinced that a new diet alone would have resulted in Long’s dramatic reduction in size.
Long has been the subject of controversy before. In addition to marital issues as reported by the Inquisitr, a 2005 report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution accused Long of taking over $3 million in benefits and pay from his non-profit, Bishop Eddie Long Ministries, Inc. Long defended himself, saying the charity’s income was generated not by member donations, but from speaking fees, royalties, and a few larger donations.
Long also refused to cooperate with a three-year Senate investigation into the tax exemption claimed by six of his ministries, nor would he disclose his own salary. Although no wrongdoing was uncovered, the controversy negatively affected the church’s coffers and donations dropped.
WSB-TV reports that the bishop settled lawsuits in 2001 with four men who claimed to have had sex with Long when they were teenage members of the church. CNN reports that, according to the suit, the men claimed to have engaged in sexual behavior with Long. In exchange, Long allegedly lavished expensive gifts on the men. Attorneys for Long denied the charges, saying the financial gifts and extra attention were simply that of a man behaving as a father figure/mentor to the youths.
The charges were especially controversial, considering Long’s crusade against gay marriage and his belief that gay men could be “converted” through Christ. Despite vowing to his congregation that he would fight the charges, mediation and a settlement followed.
A call by Atlanta Black Star to Long’s executive office seeking comment on the reports of Long’s hospitalization was not returned.
[Photo by John Amis-Pool/Getty Images]
