San Diego, Calif., Mar 20, 2005 / 22:00 pm
The chancellor of the Diocese of San Diego says the bishop denied a man a Catholic funeral because his business activities were contrary to Scripture and to the teachings of the Catholic Church.
John McCusker died last week of congestive heart failure. The 31-year-old was the owner of a dance club that was popular with homosexuals and of another bar for homosexual patrons.
Chancellor Rodrigo Valdivia said church officials did not know McCusker’s business activities when arrangements were made to hold funeral services at Immaculata Catholic Church on the University of San Diego.
“However, when these facts became known, the bishop concluded that to avoid public scandal Mr. McCusker cannot be granted a funeral in a Catholic church or chapel in the Diocese of San Diego," he explained in a statement Thursday.