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| Copyright Associated Press |
Rumors abound that Bishop Eddie Long’s wife, Vanessa, has moved out of the Long home.
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church is vehemently disputing the rumors.
“Well-placed spies for The Mo’Kelly Report and long-time members of New Birth are alleging that Vanessa Long, the First Lady of New Birth, has moved out of the house, in fact taking one of the children with her due to the scandal,” The Mo’Kelly Report published.
After vowing to his congregation to fight, Atlanta megachurch pastor Eddie Long quietly settled the sexual misconduct lawsuits filed against him in May.
Four men—all former members of Long’s church now in their early 20s—claim the pastor used gifts, trips and money to coerce them into engaging in sex acts with him beginning when they were 17 or 18. Because the men were over the age of consent in Georgia, which is 16, no criminal charges were filed.
Although New Birth typically does not respond to rumors, the church felt it needed to address the reports, which bloggers are basing on anonymous sources.
“That claim is completely and absolutely false,” according to a published statement from church spokesman Art Franklin. “Mrs. Long is very much a loving, dedicated and committed wife and mother.”
New Birth is asking bloggers to retract their stories.
