verbal injury??

A family member recently died. He was a pastor, and the church that he was in charge of had many issues (before he became pastor and continued during). Right before his death, it was found out within the family that he had an "alternative" life style (one deemed sinful). So needless to say, it was like living 2 separate lives. My sister got an apartment and a separation from him. Now, the church received a police report from his death, and know everything. They want to make a public statement about his lifestyle to the congregation. He was very well known within hundreds of miles from here, his children go to school at church, and if they publicly make everything known, there is no way that her family can stay here in the area, without putting her family through much emotional anguish and public humiliation. Would this be considered verbal injury, and is there a way to press charges if they follow thru with the public announcement? As stated before, it would have a severe emotional impact on the children and would publicly humiliate them.

Unfortunately if what they say is factually true there are normally not ways to stop them as a matter of law. You could threaten a lawsuit of course.

You may be best off trying to negotiate a solution and out of respect for the deceased etc, and since the deceased cannot defend comments etc, perhaps the persons in charge will compromise.