SAN DIEGO, March 19 (UPI) -- Hundreds attended the Friday funeral of a gay nightclub owner in San Diego, but many were outraged the Roman Catholic Church denied him a Catholic service.
Some 500 people packed St. Paul's Cathedral, an Episcopal church, to lay to rest 31-year-old John McCusker, the owner of Club Montage. He died last Sunday of apparent heart failure, reported the San Diego Union-Tribune Saturday.
Outside the church several of McCusker's friends and other members of the gay community said they were outraged the diocese said McCusker couldn't receive a Catholic funeral at any parish in its jurisdiction.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego said it took the action because a pornographic video had been filmed at the club he owned.
"The bishop acted as he did so that the faithful would not be misled and erroneously conclude that the church condones activities such as those included in the businesses of Mr. McCusker," a statement by the diocese said.
McCusker's family had planned to hold the funeral at Immaculata Catholic Church, but were forced to find another venue.
