Bishop apologizes, offers Mass for gay man
Tom Musbach, PlanetOut Network
SUMMARY: A San Diego bishop surprised many Catholics and gay
activists by apologizing for his decision to forbid a gay bar owner's
funeral from being held in the diocese.
In a move that some say symbolizes the
spirit of Easter, a San Diego bishop surprised many Catholics and gay
activists on Monday by apologizing for his decision last week to forbid
a gay bar owner's funeral from being held in the diocese.
Catholic Bishop Robert Brom caused an uproar last week with his refusal to allow a funeral
for John McCusker, 31, who died March 13 during a ski vacation. The
bishop said he took the action because McCusker's "business activities
... were contrary to sacred Scripture and the moral teaching of the
church."
McCusker owned a gay bar and a nightclub,
Club Montage, that he often rented out for both gay and straight
events, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Outraged gay and straight Catholics
gathered in San Diego Monday night to plan a response to the bishop,
but instead they received his apology, which was read aloud by
McCusker's parents.
"I deeply regret that denying a Catholic
funeral for John McCusker ... has resulted in his unjust condemnation,
and I apologize to the family for the anguish this has caused them,"
said Bishop Brom in the written statement. "To help rectify this
situation, insofar as it can be, I will preside at a Mass for the
family, in memory of John."
Funeral services for McCusker were held
last Friday at St. Paul's Cathedral, which is Episcopalian. More than
500 people attended, according to press reports.
Tom Kirkman, a spokesman for the San
Diego chapter of DignityUSA, the largest group of LGBT Catholics, was
at the Monday meeting. Though Dignity had demanded an apology days
earlier, he said the bishop's statement was unexpected.
"We were all surprised at the bishop's
comments but were grateful that he did so for the sake of John
McCusker's family," Kirkman told the PlanetOut Network. "The grieving
and healing processes can now begin."
"Bishop Brom's reversal illustrates that
church leaders have the resources within them to correct policies that
are based on anti-gay custom, rather than Christian compassion and
inclusiveness," said Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways
Ministry, a national outreach to LGBT Catholics.
Even the nation's largest LGBT political organization, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), commended the bishop's action.
"Admitting mistakes is an act of great
courage and an important moral responsibility," said Winnie
Stachelberg, vice president of the HRC Foundation. "We hope that Mr.
McCusker's family comes to a place of understanding with their faith
and are able to find healing and solace in their time of need."
The uproar over the McCusker funeral
occurred just before the Catholic observance of Holy Week, which
culminates on Sunday with the worldwide Christian celebration of Easter.
"The gay and lesbian Catholic community
in the United States has suffered crucifixion this week, experiencing
the rejection that Jesus felt on the first Good Friday," DeBernardo
told the PlanetOut Network. "I hope that [Brom's] new decision will be
a sign for all lesbian and gay Catholics to keep steadfast, faithful
and prophetic, even in the darkest moments. Their pain, like Jesus',
can also be transformed into new life."
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