If you're in or near San Diego on Monday, consider attending the meeting. And spread the word. The letter below is from the CEO of the LGBT community center in San Diego. Thanks, JOHN
Dear Friends,
Today the San Diego community mourned together. Hundreds of members of the entire community joined the family of John McCusker to remember him and to honor and celebrate his life.
Like many of you, I was surprised and deeply saddened by John’s death. Thirty-one years were too few. His smile and energy will be deeply missed. Bearing witness today for John’s family and friends was both heartbreaking and inspiring. The outpouring of his friends’ love and support and the pride of a family for their beloved son was incredible.
The service and compassion of St. Paul’s ministry brought many of us to tears. The philosophy of St. Paul’s was posted for all to read as we entered – “St. Paul’s Cathedral is a place where diversity is respected, encouraged, and protected. All persons who enter this sacred space enter with the promise that they will be free to be who they are and what God intended them to be … If you are visting…, please know you are granted immunity from the painful ravages of religious bigotry and intolerance. St. Paul’s exists for people of all religious faiths and beliefs and for those who have yet to discover the direction of their own spiritual journey.”
A powerful statement of faith, love, compassion and comfort.
John will be buried today. And today, we grieve with his family and loved ones and offer up the dignity and respect John’s family and close friends deserve.
And on Monday, we will gather together again with a different purpose – this time at The Center – to discuss our community’s response to Bishop Robert Brom’s outrageous, disrespectful and insensitive act. The meeting will take place at 6pm.
By now, many of you have read the news coverage about Bishop Brom’s decision to deny John a funeral in the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego, which meant that none of the 98 Catholic churches in San Diego or Imperial Counties were allowed to provide services for John and his family.
Bishop Brom’s actions – shutting a family out of its own church – is an act few members of the faith community, or even the community of man, can understand. It is staggering to me that any faith leader would deny any parents – especially devoutly Catholic parents like the McCuskers – the opportunity to memorialize their son. It is a deep violation of every principle of dignity and compassion. For Bishop Brom to single out and politicize – for whatever personal reason – the death of a man who gave so much to his family, friends and community is simply unconscionable.
While we grieve today, the Bishop’s act of inhumanity will not go unchallenged. Please join us on Monday as we develop a response worthy of the dignity of John’s life, and that of our community.
For more information about the meeting, you can contact Shawn Ingram at The Center at (619)692-2077. You can also call the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation at (619) 291-3383; the Greater San Diego Business Association (GSDBA) at (619) 296-4543; or City Commissioner Nicole Murray-Ramirez at (619) 692-1967.
Sincerely,
Dr. Delores A. Jacobs
Chief Executive Officer
The San Diego LGBT Community Center
http://www.thecentersd.org
