via NBCSandiego.com: Bishop Apologizes For Denying Funeral To Gay Bar Owner

Bishop Apologizes For Denying Funeral To Gay Bar Owner
Friends, Family Express Relief, Surprise

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego diocese has issued a written apology to the family of John McCusker, a gay man recently denied a funeral for having businesses 'inconsistent with Catholic teaching.'

In a letter to McCusker's family, Bishop Richard H. Brom said, 'I deeply regret that denying a Catholic funeral to John McCusker at the Immaculata has resulted in his unjust condemnation and I apologize to the family for the anguish this has caused. To help rectify the situation, in so far as it can be, I will preside at a mass for the family, in memory of John, at the Immaculata.'

The statement represented a distinct departure from the tone of another letter issued last week, in which Brom said McCusker was being denied a Catholic funeral to 'avoid public scandal.' The church cited the fact that porn stars from X-rated videos were scheduled to appear at McCusker's clubs. McCusker, 31, owned Club Montage, which offered both gay and straight nights, and Rebar in North Park.

The denial of sacraments was an emotional issue for McCusker's family and touched a nerve in the gay and lesbian community. While McCusker was a graduate of the University of San Diego and his family had wanted to hold his funeral services there, they were forced to hold them instead at an Episcopal church. The controversy touched off a flurry of phone calls and complaints to the diocese, NBC 7/39 reported.

A meeting in Hillcrest Monday night was intended as a strategizing session to elicit an apology from the diocese. The fact that an apology had already been issued became apparent, however, when McCusker's mother stood up to read the bishop's letter.

McCusker's friends and relatives said they were satisfied with the apology, and surprised.

'I think a lot of people came in here with a lot of anger,' said Patrick Trotter. 'We were going to do something, hopefully something dignified. We were going to protest and then he apologized and we couldn't have asked for anything better.'

McCusker died on Sunday of congestive heart failure, according to his family."

Well, will the wonders never cease? Someone in the Catholic Church leadership still possesses some decency. I wonder how far up the hierarchy this had to go before enough pressure was brought on Bishop Brom to change his mind.