ST LOUIS (LALATE EXCLUSIVE) – The Vanessa Long divorce from Eddie Long proceeded in a DeKalb Courthouse yesterday. On December 1, Vanessa Long filed for divorce from Bishop Eddie Long; but on December 5, Eddie Long’s attorneys claimed Vanessa Long had withdrawn her lawsuit. She never did. On Monday, defendant Eddie Long’s proof of service was filed within the DeKalb Superior Court.

Vanessa Long has retained three attorneys in the matter before Superior Court judge Tangela M Barrie. Eddie Long (case number 11CV12748) has retained William Bradley Hill.

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After news of the divorce was revealed, Long’s spokesperson Art Franklin confirmed that the Bishop would be taking a break from New Birth. Bishop long told his congregation at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church that he would continue at a Lithonia church as senior pastor.

Bishop Eddie Long has told news for “privacy and sensitivity to … [his] family.” He added “Vanessa and I are working together in seeking God’s will in our current circumstances.” Vanessa Long, however, did not join with the Bishop in releasing that news statement.

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In 2004, Long’s ministry received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Administration of Children & Families under the Bush Administration. But recently, New Birth and/or Eddie Long paid a reported $15 million settlement to accusers Spencer LeGrande, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Maurice Robinson.

Flagg and Robinson had demanded $20 million in settlement for the pair earlier in the litigation. Later in negotiations, the price allegedly dropped to $20 million, claim news report. One alleged victim reportedly demanded a public apology.

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No such public comment was given after the settlement was reached. The alleged abuse case did not head to criminal court thereafter because the alleged acts occurred when the boys were at least seventeen years old; Georgia’s legal age of consent is sixteen.

When the scandal erupted, Long said “I am not going to try this case in the media”. When the scandal settled, Long said “This decision was made to bring closure to this matter and to allow us to move forward with the plans God has for this ministry…. The resolution is the most reasonable road for everyone to travel.”

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Vanessa Long (photo above) has found a new birth in her marriage to Bishop Eddie Long. Vanessa Long  for the most part remained silent during the turmoil at New Birth last year. Long would defend her husband against accusations and a lawsuit. Bishop Eddie Long’s settlement eventually cost an alleged $15 million. And while Bishop Eddie swiftly settled his case in less than one year, today Vanessa Long settled her divorce dispute in less than twenty-four hours.

A year ago a billboard was appearing across highways near Vanessa Long’s home. It featured the message “LOVE, LIVE, LEAD LIKE HIM” next to a flexing Eddie Long appearing without his hairpiece but in a form-fitting shirt. That message has caused confusion and controversy for local residents. But today, Vanessa Long told news that the criticism from the news media over the years has been a strain on her marriage.

On Thursday, Vanessa Long chose no longer to live with Eddie. She divorced him on December 1. Today, Vanessa Long told news she had a change of heart. Vanessa would not detail why she so changed her mind so quickly.

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The billboard prompted backlash last fall. “I wouldn’t do the way he is doing like he is doing like….” said one resident when interviewed by WTVM. The resident thought the use of a billboard campaign during a scandal was highly inappropriate. “Love Live Lead Like Him? I can’t see it.”

Vanessa Long said that the critical glare of the news media has been hard. Bishop Eddie Long also refused to comment on the case. However, his representatives were constantly given news statements denying the accusations.

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Eddie Long had said “I am not going to try this case in the media, it will be tried in the court of justice and decided in the court of justice.”

And while Vanessa Long is critical of news coverage of her husband, his ministry has been the recipient of federal funds. In 2004, Long’s ministry received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Administration of Children & Families under the Bush Administration. What was the money for? Bill Pierce, a spokesperson for the Health & Human Services office, said at the time that Eddie Long’s organization received the money as a faith-based, “individual development account” grant.

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Long was eventually sued in 2010 not just for alleged acts against multiple young males, but also for alleged handling of funds. The complaint said “Defendant Long uses monetary funds from the accounts of Defendant New Birth and Defendant Longfellows … to entice the chosen Spiritual Sons with cars, clothes, jewelry and electronics.” It added that “Defendant Long’s Spiritual Songs are taken on public and private jets to U.S. and international destinations house in luxury hotels and given access to numerous celebrities including entertainment stars and politicians.”

Vanessa Long says she has withdrawn her divorce petition and is back with her husband. She does not confirm if she will appear at services this weekend as well.

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ST LOUIS (LALATE) – Bishop Eddie Long’s wife Vanessa Long never commented about those bathroom cellphone pictures that dominated the Eddie Long scandal of 2010. Vanessa Long did however support Bishop Long against allegations by Maurice Robinson, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Spencer LeGrande. But on Friday, Vanessa Long had lots to say about the couple’s marriage. Vanessa Long issued a news statement that she is divorcing the Bishop; she thereafter issued another news statement that she is withdrawing her divorce petition.

The Bishop Eddie Long scandal media coverage was the cause of Vanessa’s troubles today, she tells news. Vanessa said that the “years of attacks in the media” have been too hard for her to endure. Vanessa does not specify the “attacks” before 2010.

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Far before last year’s scandal, Long has been accused of running a hate campaign against certain groups for years. He was also previously questioned by the Senate about alleged excessive church spending to win people over with opulent possessions.

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Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) had said of Long “I’m worried that a few people are confusing the ringing of a church bell with the ringing of a cash register. When I hear about leaders of charities being provided a $300,000 Bentley to drive around in, my fear is that it’s the taxpayers who subsidize this charity who are really being taken for a ride.”

Vanessa Long filed for divorce on Thursday. On Friday morning, she confirmed the divorce in a news statement. “After a great deal of deliberation and prayer, I have decided to terminate my marriage to Bishop Eddie L. Long. Accordingly, I authorized my attorneys to file for divorce on December 1, 2011″.

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By midday, she withdrew the divorce and issued a new statement. “Upon prayerful reflection, I have reconsidered and plan to withdraw my petition for divorce from my husband, Bishop Eddie L. Long. I love my husband. I believe in him and admire his strength and courage.”

Long has been under fire far before the 2010 scandal. In 2006, he held at New Birth a “Orientation and Reorientation” conference.  The event was to “deliver” gays from “unwanted desires”. Inside the church’s bookstore at the time was on sale a book by Bishop Brian Keith Williams. Williams writes in the passage “All Dogs Go to Hell” that “if if one engages in this dog-like sin, it will result in both an immediate and ultimate hell.” Long has called it “a manifestation of the fallen man.”

Long has criticized everything from tv programming to cellphone devices. He was reportedly preaching in his book “In Deliver Me From Adam” that he was unhappy with current society’s programming. He said he enjoyed best the shows “Leave it to Beaver” and “Father Knows Best” . He claims in those shows “every family had a mom and dad.” But today, “most of the situation comedies project fractured families.”

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ST LOUIS (LALATE) – The Bishop Eddie Long settlement ended in a $15 million payment, claims reports. A Bishop Eddie Long settlement was confirmed to news by New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Atlanta this month. But no terms of the settlement were released to news pursuant to a confidentiality agreement. Now, however, a series of news reports claim the settlement gave Spencer LeGrande, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Maurice Robinson a combined amount of $15 million (before attorneys’ fees).

With the settlement, Bishop Eddie Long avoided the airing of negative details at trial. But Long is still suffering this month. Multiple reports are denouncing the alleged public lack of healing being exemplified by Long, who made no mention of the settlement during last week’s sermon. Now his congregation remains in flux over the alleged cash settlement.

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News of the settlement, leaked allegations of the $15 million price, and allegations that Long has yet to publicly demonstrate a healing with his congregation were supplemented by news this month that one of Long’s most famous church elders is leaving. Bernice King, the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., resigned from New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, after the settlement was announced.

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Unconfirmed reports claim that plaintiffs Flagg and Robinson had demanded $20 million in settlement for the pair early in the litigation. Later in negotiations, the price allegedly dropped to $20 million total. One alleged reported sticking point was a public apology. After no such apology was given, one report claims that the price tag fell to $15 million ($3.6 million each) reportedly because of an alleged private apology given behind Church doors. And while initial news reports suggested that parishioner donations paid the alleged $15 million settlement, one report claims that a Church insurance policy allegedly paid $13 million of the alleged $15 million settlement price.

The case cannot head to a criminal court because the alleged acts occurred when the boys were at least seventeen years old. Georgia’s legal age of consent is sixteen.

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ST LOUIS (LALATE) – The Bishop Eddie Long settlement may not solve perception problems plaguing New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Longfellow. Bishop Eddie Long last week settled cases brought against him and New Birth by former Spiritual Sons and members. While terms of the settlement agreement were confidential, that confidentiality could ultimately hurt New Birth’s image, says insiders. Long has shown zero remorse since news of the settlement, prompting critics to wonder if perceptions of the ministry will remain in doubt.

Maurice Robinson, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Spencer LeGrande had accused defendants not just of wrongful conduct against their bodies but also of Bishop Eddie Long allegedly shuffling church funds, given by parishioners, to fund his alleged antics with the boys. Now with news of the cases dismissed, critics are wondering if more alleged parishioner donations were used to fund a possible the settlement payment.

For years, Long and New Birth has been under fire for opulent spending. Long’s living high, with a Bentley, a jet and a mansion is not new. But were parishioner funds used to seduce Long’s accusers? The lawsuits had claimed that “Defendant Long uses monetary funds from the accounts of Defendant New Birth and Defendant Longfellows … to entice the chosen Spiritual Sons with cars, clothes, jewelry and electronics”.

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A recent media campaign depicted Long on billboards with the image “Love Live Lead Like Him.” But with Long being portrayed first in a Bentley, then accused of using ministry funds to “entice” members with car purchases, and now the subject of a settlement agreement, the presence of a confidentiality agreement is causing unanswered questions to remain unresolved.

When the scandal erupted, Long said “I am not going to try this case in the media”. When the scandal was settled last week, Long didn’t given any further insight. A news statement posted on New Birth simply read “This decision was made to bring closure to this matter and to allow us to move forward with the plans God has for this ministry….The resolution is the most reasonable road for everyone to travel.”

While Long has refused to discuss the matter, that lack of answers could impact membership and future funding. As one reader commented this week, “I am totally disgusted by this case. Where did the settlement money come from? I am certain that the hard working congregation did not have a … settlement in mind when they dug into their pockets each Sunday. How many computers and books would that money have purchased?”

Long said in his response to the complaints that “Defendant Long’s Spiritual Songs are taken on public and private jets to U.S. and international destinations house in luxury hotels and given access to numerous celebrities including entertainment stars and politicians.” But one person who will no longer be part of that is Reverend Bernice King — Martin Luther King, Jr.’s youngest daughter. She now confirms that she is leaving New Birth.

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