St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City announced Thursday that it will hold a “Mass of Penance” after being deceived in hosting the funeral of a controversial transgender activist.
Funeral of Cecilia Gentili, an Argentine-born atheist and activist who advocated for the trans community, sex workers, and HIV/AIDs patients.
The event drew more than 1,000 mourners and angered the Catholic community over what many considered their violent and “scandalous” behavior. Anger increased when attendees reverently referred to Gentili as “the mother of all W—–.”
People hold flowers and a banner honoring Cecilia Gentili outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, New York, on February 15, 2024. (Sheetal Banchariya/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) (Sheetal Banchariya/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images))
How the cathedral was tricked into holding the funeral has been a question since Thursday. St. Patrick’s Cathedral pastor Enrique Salvo said Gentili’s friends and family had “desired a Catholic funeral Mass, but our welcome and prayers were degraded in such a sacrilegious and deceitful manner.” I didn’t expect to be hurt,” he said.
Researchers have claimed that “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” exists, but there are theories that deny it.
Salvo said the “scandal” was made worse by the fact that it occurred at the beginning of Lent, the preparation for Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Salvo said the church celebrated an appropriate “Mass of Penance” at the direction of the cardinal. That mass was held on Saturday.
A “Mass of Penance” is a Mass held to reconsecrate a church that has suffered a scandal.
Last November, Bishop Robert Brennan celebrated a Mass of Penance at the 100-year-old Church of the Virgin Mary in response to Sabrina Carpenter’s controversial music video shot at the church.
File: St. Patrick’s Day Mass held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on March 17, 2021. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
In the video, Carpenter is seen wearing a skimpy black dress and several men are seen killing each other over her. It also depicted her attending her funeral in her church with a candy-colored coffin that included the inscription “RIP B*tch.”
Sunday, Gentili family issued a statement They told the press they “bringed precious lives and fundamental joy to the cathedral in a historic defiance of church hypocrisy and anti-trans hatred.”
“Cecilia Gentili’s funeral, which filled the cathedral in a way that only Easter services and NYPD funerals can, was a reflection of her love for her community and a tribute to her tireless dedication,” the statement said. It was a testament to the impact of advocacy.”
“We confer sainthood on Cecilia in recognition of her life’s work of serving, mothering, and loving all people regardless of their HIV, immigration, or employment status. Her heart and hands reached out to those who the holy Church continues to neglect, oppress, and discipline.” It has changed the material conditions of the people. The only deception that exists in St. Patrick’s Cathedral is that it claims to be a welcoming place for all.”
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Fox News Digital has reached out to St. Patrick’s Cathedral for further comment.
FOX News’ Sarah Rumpf-Witten and Lindsey Cornick contributed to this report.
