Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, who gained international notoriety by declaring himself first to be Jesus Christ, then the Antichrist, roundly lost his divorce court bid to protect his church from financial claims by his most recent ex-wife.
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Roberto Pineiro in Florida essentially ruled that De Jesus’ Growing in Grace church was his personal business rather than a religious non-profit, and awarded Josefina de Jesus Torres the more than $2.2 million she sought in the divorce — the amount her lawyer deemed was half the assets of her ex-husband and his church.
"I think the judge did what was right and awarded Josefina what she was entitled to under the law," said Torres’ lawyer, Norman Segall. "The church has millions of dollars ... and I’m sure if De Jesus issues an edict from up above that he needs money, it’s available to resolve the situation."
The ruling marks a downturn in the fortunes of the colourful preacher, one that affects not just him but others in his life. His daughter JoAnn De Jesus is fighting contempt charges related to the case. His father and first wife face possible eviction from properties held in his and the church’s names that the judgment awarded to Torres if he doesn’t pay up this month.
De Jesus disappeared in August, when the judge declared him in contempt of court and ordered him to surrender to authorities for not paying Torres $15,000 a month in alimony. The divorce trial went ahead without him that month. JoAnn has since testified that her father has been living in Houston — in a house that Torres could soon own, according to the ruling.
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