New Haven funeral home files lawsuit against priest, archdiocese

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 3:30 p.m. -- A New Haven funeral home operator has filed a lawsuit against the pastor St. Catharine of Alexandria church in New Haven, alleging the priest's new policies at the Catholic church will cause him to lose funeral business and income.

Ron Rust, owner of William R. Rust Funeral Home, claims that church pastor Rev. Jeffrey Leger has issued overly restrictive policies about funeral Masses held at the church. The Archdiocese of Louisville was also named in the lawsuit.

According to a story broadcast earlier today by WBRT radio, the complaint filed in Nelson Circuit Court says that Rev. Leger has added new restrictions that include restrictions on readings allowed during a funeral Mass and restrictions on who shall provide the music, the songs selection and restrictions on tributes and eulogies.

The lawsuit states Rev. Leger's new policies require that all details of the funeral Mass be arranged with him rather than through the funeral director. The policies allegedly also require that Leger be the sole celebrant at the church's funeral Masses. The lawsuit says Leger reserves the right to determine when funerals could held at the church, and who would be granted a funeral Mass at St. Catharine.

Rust is seeking a temporary injunction to prevent Leger's new policies from taking effect until the courts or the Archdiocese of Louisville make a ruling on them.

A lawsuit only tells one side of a story.