ISSUES: Bishop Long: I Am Not the Man on TV

Bishop Eddie Long, the subject of various lawsuits alleging that he used his position to take advantage sexually of young men in his church, broke his silence today, telling his congregation that, "I’m under attack. I want you to know as I said earlier I am not a perfect man. ... But this thing I’m going to fight." Comparing his situation to David and Goliath, Long sad, "I’ve got five rocks and I haven’t thrown one yet."

Long did not specifically deny the allegations, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and declined to "try this case in the media." But, "I am not the man being portrayed on television That’s not me. That is not me." Long was to give a news conference after services.