"king" Bishop Eddie Long must resign after Torah ceremony row

In yet another turn of embarrassing events, Bishop Eddie Long has sent out an apology to the Anti -Defamation League over a traditional Jewish "king" crowning ceremony. In a video clip that surfaced last week, Long was wrapped in a Torah scroll and crowned "king" by a rabbi. If you haven't seen the video, click here to see it. It's unbelievable! Here's the kicker though, not only are the scrolls used in the clip as fake as a three dollar bill but the rabbi conducting the ceremony appears to be not ordained in the Jewish faith. Tsk tsk..

Bishop Eddie Long and his jerry curl toupee

In the apology letter, Long seems remorseful but makes it clear that this was not his idea. The apology letter reads:

"The ceremony was not my suggestion, nor was it my intent, to participate in any ritual that is offensive in any manner to the Jewish community, or any group. Furthermore, I sincerely denounce any action that depicts me as a King, for I am merely just a servant of the Lord," Long wrote in a letter dated Saturday.

The Bishop is no stranger to scandal, having made headlines last year in a lawsuit by a group of men alleging he used his position as pastor to sexually molest them. The case was eventually settled out of court  (for an undisclosed amount) leaving a publicly humiliated Bishop with a tarnished image. Isn't settling out of court almost an admission of guilt? Seems bizarre for a man claiming to be innocent. Then late last year Long's wife Vanessa filed for a divorce from the preacher in the wake of all the drama and quite frankly, who could blame her.

At this point, I think even Stevie Wonder could see that "king Eddie" should resign. What I fail to understand is why and how the people in Eddie Long's congregation still stand behind him? Surely the ceremony should be the straw that breaks the camel's back. My issue here is that Long is using the pulpit and hiding behind the cloak of Christianity to repair his image. I am honestly embarrassed for the Bishop and if he really cares about religion, his New Birth congregation or himself...then he should step down. 


Thoughts? Should Eddie Long resign or stay in his church?