Earl Paulk: Accused minister denies charges of child molestation

Near the end of a two-hour Easter service laced with references to spiritual warfare between Satan and God, Bishop Earl Paulk on Sunday denied molesting a girl who grew up in his congregation.

"All accusations you have been hearing are absolutely untrue and it will be proven so," Paulk told a crowd of more than 5,000 at the Cathedral at Chapel Hill on Sunday. Paulk, 73, is the founding pastor of the church, which is also known as Chapel Hill Harvester and as the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.

On Wednesday, Jessica Battle, a Florida college student and lifelong member of the church, filed suit in DeKalb County State Court accusing Paulk of fondling her, performing oral sex on her and having intercourse with her from the time she was about 7 years old until she was 11 and of forcing her to have intercourse with him when she was 17.
Some of the incidents occurred on church property or during church-sponsored events, according to the suit, which asks for unspecified compensation for physical and emotional injuries.
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Paulk said he has received calls of support from some of the country's best known religious figures, including Bishop T.D. Jakes of Dallas; television evangelist Binny Hinn, known for his healing services that leave people lying on the floor "slain in the spirit"; Trinity television network hosts Jan and Paul Crouch; and Bishop Eddie Lee Long, pastor of DeKalb County's Missionary Baptist Church, with 20,000-plus members.

The embattled bishop also said Atlanta mayor Bill Campbell called to say he will visit the church soon to offer encouragement.
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