St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York held a “Mass of Penance” this weekend in reparation for the “scandalous” and “blasphemous” incident in honor of late trans activist Cecilia Gentili.
According to Father Enrique Salvo, the cathedral’s organizer and organizer of the event. Approaching the Under false pretenses, St. Patrick’s Church requested permission to hold a funeral mass for a deceased Catholic.
In fact, they tried to take over the cathedral for a pro-transgender demonstration. new york times explained as an “enthusiastic piece of political drama”.
The deceased was an Argentine cross-dressing atheist who campaigned for the decriminalization of sex work in New York and was a major fundraiser for transgender causes.
At the Feb. 15 event, a statue of Gentili with a halo surrounded by the Spanish words for “prostitute,” “transvestite,” “blessed” and “mother” was placed at the foot of the altar. , several people attended. 1,000 people attended, many of them in drag.
“At the service, many of those in attendance dressed up as prostitutes and danced in the aisles, and when “Ave Maria” was sung, they sang “Ave Cecilia” and shouted “Holy Mary.” Cecilia, mother of all whores.” I got it. Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League.
Father Edward Daugherty, who presided over the event, reiterated: mention He referred to Gentili as “our sister” using feminine pronouns, and those in attendance called him “the mother of prostitutes.”
In the comments to new york times, Jesuit Father James Martin, an outspoken LGBT advocate, also called Gentili a “woman.” He said Ms Martin was invited to speak at the event but she was “out of town”.
Cecilia Gentili attends the 2022 Center Dinner, the LGBT Community Center’s annual fundraising dinner, at Cipriani Wall Street on April 14, 2022 in New York. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)
People attend the funeral of transgender community activist Cecilia Gentili at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City on February 15, 2024. Gentili’s funeral was the first time a funeral mass for a transgender person has been held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Later, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York criticized her for hosting the funeral, saying she did not know the identity of the deceased when she agreed to host the funeral. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Father Salvo, the cathedral’s rector, distanced himself from the event, saying the cathedral diocese was only aware that family and friends were requesting a funeral mass for a Catholic. He claimed he had no knowledge of the deceitful manner in which he would be ravaged.
“It makes the situation even worse that such a scandal occurred in the ‘Parish Church of America.’ It comes as Lent, the annual 40-day battle against the forces of sin and darkness, begins. “What has happened is a powerful reminder of how much we need the prayers, penance, repentance, grace, and mercy that this holy season invites us to,” he said.
