WI Online Editor
Officials at Eddie Long’s church in Lithonia, Ga., had been paying each of the four men who accused the disgraced bishop of having sexual relations with them, $40,000 annually before charges were filed, according to information a source close to the situation provided to the Redding News Review (RNR).
In an article recently posted on Black America Web (BAW) -- and which credited a report by RNR editor Robert "Rob" Redding Jr. - while Long gave a private apology to the men, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church settled the lawsuit they brought against him, for nearly $25 million. The unnamed source said that Long refused to give a public apology, which ended up costing him more, according to RNR.
Meanwhile, other reports state that in the midst of the lawsuit and allegations New Birth has suffered a financial strain.
As a result, some of the church’s staff have had their work hours reduced, programs have been cut and membership has slackened.
The Rev. Bernice King -- youngest daughter of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. -- also recently resigned her post as an elder at the megachurch.
