A funeral liturgy held on Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for Cecilia Gentili, a prominent “transgender activist and actress, former sex worker and self-professed atheist,” has ignited a firestorm of controversy.
The service, which took place in one of the most revered Catholic churches in the United States, has drawn intense criticism on social media.
The service, which took place in the hallowed halls of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, has been criticized for the misuse of the iconic church, challenging Catholic teachings.
Gentili, an Argentinian transgender activist and self-proclaimed atheist, was a leading figure in efforts to decriminalize sex work in New York and championed the inclusion of “gender identity” as a protected classification under state human rights law, according to Post Millennial.
Gentili was also a significant fundraiser for transgender causes and had received a $540,000 grant from the Biden administration for transgender outreach related to HIV.
The funeral was organized by Ceyenne Doroshow, founder of Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society (GLITS), who saw St. Patrick’s Cathedral as a fitting venue for Gentili’s “iconic status.”
However, Doroshow admitted to the New York Times not disclosing Gentili’s transgender identity to the church officials, stating, “I kind of kept it under wraps.”
The funeral service itself included prayers for access to sex-change surgery. A particularly provocative farewell message described Gentili as “puta,” which means whore in English.
“This whore. This great whore. St. Cecilia, Mother of all Whores!” said one of the activists.
WATCH:
Anti-Catholic group of trans “activists” stage a mockery of the Christian faith INSIDE St. Patrick’s Cathedral in NYC:
The mob staged a supposed funeral service for Cecilia Gentili, a transgender, atheist prostitute during who they eulogized as: “This whore. This great whore.… pic.twitter.com/7w0wmifzkH
— CatholicVote (@CatholicVote) February 16, 2024
Fr. Edward Dougherty, as reported by TIME, led the funeral service for atheist Cecilia Gentili. During the service, he humorously said, “”Except on Easter Sunday, we don’t really have a crowd that is this well turned out.”
WATCH:
Here’s Fr. Edward Dougherty (according to TIME) officiating the funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for trans activist and prostitute Cecilia Gentili, joking, “Except on Easter Sunday, we don’t really have a crowd that is this well turned out,” to which the crowd of trans… pic.twitter.com/3gYehwdxcq
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) February 16, 2024
While some argue that the cathedral’s doors should be open to all, others insist that church teachings should not be compromised.
The decision to host Gentili’s service at such a significant Catholic institution has led to an outcry from some social media users, who labeled the event as “blasphemous” and “sacrilegious,” calling it a “desecration” of America’s most renowned Catholic church.
This was not a compassionate dignified burial of a sinner, which we all are. This celebrated sin. Sacred Catholic funeral rites were desecrated. We all should be ashamed.
— Tim Hartwig (@TimHartwigDO) February 17, 2024
@CardinalDolan this is a disgrace! You allowed this? Why does a blasphemous “event” such as this need to occur in a Holy and Catholic church? Why don’t they find a location that better suits their beliefs? If they were respectful and didn’t desecrate, then fine. Weak man you are
— Jesse Silva (@JM_Silva22) February 16, 2024
The bishop who gave permission for this scandalous event should be removed from his post immediately.
— Shannara Johnson (@shannara13) February 17, 2024
Unfortunately this is what happens when you have a Pope who introduces this type of behaviour with the blasphemous letter a few weeks back.
Terrible#Catholic— YRivas (@Y_Rivas503) February 17, 2024
Why is it that Christians can be mocked like that? Why don’t they go do that in a mosque? Oh yeah, the Muslims would fight back. Disgusting.
— The Warrior Monk (@WarriorMonk777) February 17, 2024
