Bishop Long Divorce: Eddie Long's Wife, Vanessa Long, Files For Divorce, Then Retracts Statement

A few hours after issuing a statement about her plans to divorce husband Bishop Eddie Long, Vanessa Long has withdrawn her petition to split from the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church preacher.

Vanessa released a follow-up announcement Friday afternoon explaining that she and her husband have agreed to "find healing," CBS Atlanta reports.

"I love my husband. I believe in him and admire his strength, and courage. My filing followed years of attacks in the media that frustrated and overwhelmed me," she said.

PREVIOUSLY:

Bishop Eddie Long's wife, Vanessa Long, filed for divorce from the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church preacher on Thursday.

"After a great deal of deliberation and prayer, I have decided to terminate my marriage to Bishop Eddie L. Long," Vanessa said in a statement released Friday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

According to WSBTV, Vanessa has no plans to elaborate on the details of her decision to file for the divorce.

The couple married in 1990 and have three children.

Last year, the infamously anti-gay preacher was accused of coercing four men into having sexual relations with him. Long settled the suits out of court in May.

This isn't the preacher's first failed marriage.

Long's previous wife, Dabara Houson, filed for divorce in 1985 and accused Long of beating her while she was pregnant with their son, according to ABC News. Long's attorney did not speak to the claims.

Comments

[dre in minnesota]

01:28 AM on 01/03/2012

Good ol' Atlanta.....gay men's Hollywood!

[meet me]

09:00 AM on 12/15/2011

if the people didnt support them they wouldnt be
they worship the preacher thats wrong so wrong
on so many levelesfalling on the floor screaming&
carring on they should be crying on the floor for the sin of
idoltry thats right idolitry

[mkatt]

10:20 AM on 12/07/2011

Another statement was issued by her attorney saying that to avoid confusion, only her attorney's would be issuing statements on her behalf. The retraction was issued by New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

[billybud1]

08:54 PM on 12/06/2011

I believe these wives should stop supporting these downlow men who have relations with young boy's and other men. When does it stop? I hope she continues to be tested for aids!

[mesborg]

04:34 PM on 12/06/2011

The Jericurl suggest that he might be on the DL

[Kritikos]

07:09 PM on 12/06/2011

might(?)..........hellooo.

[Darryl Price]

11:03 PM on 12/08/2011

The hair piece/jeri curl, you mean

[Dolphinfan65]

04:22 PM on 12/06/2011

We need more community churches then mega churches. The Mega church is nothing more then a corporation masked as a church!!

[pinknlynn]

02:46 PM on 12/06/2011

This is one hot mess! Although the Bible teaches forgiveness, the problem with this situation is that he hasn't admitted to anything.....nor has he denied it. How can we forgive without a confession? The man is a leader. He owes at least his congregation an explanation.

[Yam716]

03:04 PM on 12/06/2011

The fact that he didn't deny such a serious allegation is telling...

The fact that he reportedly settled and agreed to pay out 20M, is telling...

All of his actions are questionable and I seriously question those who still follow this 'leader' after all this time.

[Constantine Pojtik]

12:21 PM on 12/06/2011

Vanessa Long, the Lord will guide your heart, mind and spirit into what is "The Truth'. You are not to divorce your husband (Eddie Long) in God's eyes for financial, verbal, physical and quarrelsome situation. Pray to the "Father" for your marriage. He will heal and spare you. But, since Eddie Long has committed a God-forsaken act on this marriage; (adultery), divorcing him in the Eye's of the Lord thy God, will make you a stronger person fore our Lord detest such acts. Do what "The Truth' discerns of you and preserve your life in the Lord. Your Blameless. Real Eyes Can See. Constantine

[JFaye]

02:56 PM on 12/06/2011

The only healing Ms. Long needs will come with peace once her divorce from this hypocrisy is final. She can move on with her life and truly live the life God wants for her... Telling a woman to stay married to a man who has committed adultery, particularly manipulating and grooming young men for his physical pleasure is not of God.

[Yam716]

02:54 PM on 12/05/2011

This story should be updated to state that she went ahead and filed for divorce.

[pinknlynn]

02:49 PM on 12/06/2011

Oh wow, I didn't know that. Thanks for the info.

[stayinconscious101]

02:24 PM on 12/05/2011

Well we are products of the massa's religion.... let's see.... he cut our tongues out took our language pulled our fathers apart with a team of horses and raped our women, assigned us to eating garbage we call soul food..... and then.... he gave us the RIGHT religion.... go figure..... while we are assimulating into our synthetic society no one seems to be conscious enough to question WHY??

[Yam716]

02:55 PM on 12/05/2011

You're right. But the slaves were not the only victims of the spread of Christianity. This has been happening for centuries.

[Stephen Stafford]

12:53 PM on 12/06/2011

This is God's religion. You have a whole lot twisted.

[jazzylyn]

05:59 PM on 12/04/2011

This article belongs in the criminal sectional and his wife needs mental health care for greed and codependency The boys/victims need psychological help and financial restitutions and all these so called churches need to pay taxes no more tax exempt status. How often do we hear about these instances and how often do we not? Too many years with the Catholics.

[Stephen Stafford]

12:57 PM on 12/06/2011

Divorce is not a criminal offense. That covers them. Nor are sour grapes. That covers you.

What information have you that this woman is greedy and codependent?

There are no boys or victims in the divorce. The situation you concern yourself with has been resolved. You are concerned with something that has been resolved and the actual people involved have moved on.

[speedy evans]

02:45 PM on 12/04/2011

she better leave before she catch something from that pervert..oral so@#$me is a serious charge...lady's... so what would you do..thats why it never got to court ..the charges from all 3..

[Barringtonmorr]

04:07 PM on 12/04/2011

Huh?

[scarymemo]

12:59 PM on 12/04/2011

This story belongs in either the entertainment or crime section.

[captainfantastic]

12:53 PM on 12/04/2011

I want some of that bishop money!

[X Williams]

09:57 AM on 12/04/2011

To the poster who asked why the wives of southern black men are always light skinned I think that southern black men are extremely color struck. My pastors wife growing up was light skinned. I know african ministers in the south whose wives are dark skinned however.