Judge Requested to Order HIV/ AIDS Test for Bishop Eddie Long in Certified Letter

Bishop Eddie Long's alleged behavior has been unworthy of a man of the church, not to mention dangerous. This is what Reuben Armstrong, the controversial talk show host and best-selling author, is saying in an interview I did with him this morning.

Armstrong is so concerned that he has sent a letter to the judge who will be hearing the sexual abuse cases brought against Bishop Long. The letter is requesting that Bishop Long be ordered to take a HIV/AIDS test, along with other tests for sexually transmitted diseases.

Letter to Judge Requesting Bishop Eddie Long Be Ordered for HIV/AIDs Test HERE

Bishop Long has been accused of sexually abusing young teenage boys in his church, The New Birth Missionary Church in Atlanta.

He has been accused of "grooming the young men" for homosexual relationships and at the age of 16, which is the legal age of consent in Georgia, it is alleged that he starts a sexual relationship with them.

Long allegedly does this by using scripture and concocting rituals that the boys were led to believe went along with their religion. This is all stated in the legal documents posted on AJC. The documents are from the court case of Maurice Robinson, one of the young men filing these charges against Bishop Long.

Legal Court Document Filed Against Bishop Long By Accuser HERE

Reuben Armstrong wrote a book about the sexual abuse in the mega churches, and Bishop Long was one of the men cited in his book for this behavior. This book, "Snakes in the Pulpit," was written in 2006. Armstrong was met with accusations of starting rumors and no one would believe what he had to say.

The information was given to Armstrong by two youth pastors of Bishop Long's church, who reached out to Armstrong after witnessing the boys being "groomed" for homosexual activity and then the sexual abuse that followed, according to Armstrong in our interview.

Now that four young men have filed suit against Bishop Long for sexual abuse, Armstrong is concerned about what this alleged behavior may have caused by the way of sexually transmitted diseases to the young boys that Long has allegedly abused, says Armstrong.

Armstrong wrote a certified letter to the judge, Judge Johnny Panos, who will be hearing the sexual abuse cases against Long. He is requesting that the court order Bishop Long to have a HIV/AIDS test, along with other tests for sexually transmitted diseases.

Armstrong writes in his letter that HIV/AIDS is rising in the African American community. He cites the results of the statistics from the CDC (Center for Disease Control). The CDC states that African Americans accounted for almost half of the new cases of HIV/AIDS diagnosed in 36 states of the US in 2007.

Bishop Long's church and the young boys are from the state of Georgia. Georgia is in the top 10 states in the US that have seen the greatest rise in diagnosed cases of AIDS in 2006- 2008; they are fifth on the list, according the CDC.

The allegations against Long state that his sexually abusive behavior goes back years, according to the documents. Armstrong states that the chances of contacting such diseases, along with other sexually transmitted disease, are greater in the African American population due to the constant rise the CDC has seen for this cited group.

Armstrong believes that a test for sexually transmitted diseases is of vital importance for alleged past, present, and future victims of this behavior, he says in the interview.

Armstrong also states in the interview that this request is about the young men and the young boys in the church who have allegedly been abused by Bishop Long.

A press release was sent out today stating that Long has requested that Judge Johnny Panos ask for these tests to protect the young men in Long's church, according to Armstrong.

Reference:
Phone Interview with Reuben Armstrong 10/25/10
AJC Documents
Media Outrage Article
Center for Disease Control
Center for Disease Control