- Feb 5, 2002
- 166,616
- 56,250
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Catholic
- Marital Status
- Married
- Politics
- US-Others
Controversy erupted surrounding the funeral of transgender activist Cecilia Gentili, which was hosted at St. Patrick Cathedral in New York City. Roughly a thousand mourners turned out for the memorial for the former sex worker, who had battled sexual abuse, addiction and homelessness.
Gentili was raised a Catholic in Argentina but was described as an atheist by the New York Times, but Gentili had been engaging more with Christianity in recent years. During the funeral service — which was initially planned to be a Mass but changed course during the liturgy to exclude the celebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist — a friend of Gentili’s prayed for access to gender-affirming health care from the pulpit. Another individual described Gentili during remarks in Spanish as “esta puta, esta gran puta, la Santa Cecilia, la madre de todas las putas … danos la fuerza y el coraje” (“this harlot, this grand harlot, St. Cecilia, the mother of all harlots … give us strength and courage”). Also, during the funeral, a performer sang “Ave Maria,” changing the lyrics to “Ave Cecilia.” The singer then danced up and down the aisles, while twirling red scarves.
Catholics have been outraged by the funeral.
“The Cathedral only knew that family and friends were requesting a funeral Mass for a Catholic, and had no idea our welcome and prayer would be degraded in such a sacrilegious and deceptive way,” said Rev. Enrique Salvo, the rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in a statement. A Mass of Reparation has been offered, as directed by Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York.
So what are we to make of all this?
Continued below.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
Gentili was raised a Catholic in Argentina but was described as an atheist by the New York Times, but Gentili had been engaging more with Christianity in recent years. During the funeral service — which was initially planned to be a Mass but changed course during the liturgy to exclude the celebration of the Liturgy of the Eucharist — a friend of Gentili’s prayed for access to gender-affirming health care from the pulpit. Another individual described Gentili during remarks in Spanish as “esta puta, esta gran puta, la Santa Cecilia, la madre de todas las putas … danos la fuerza y el coraje” (“this harlot, this grand harlot, St. Cecilia, the mother of all harlots … give us strength and courage”). Also, during the funeral, a performer sang “Ave Maria,” changing the lyrics to “Ave Cecilia.” The singer then danced up and down the aisles, while twirling red scarves.
Catholics have been outraged by the funeral.
“The Cathedral only knew that family and friends were requesting a funeral Mass for a Catholic, and had no idea our welcome and prayer would be degraded in such a sacrilegious and deceptive way,” said Rev. Enrique Salvo, the rector of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in a statement. A Mass of Reparation has been offered, as directed by Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York.
So what are we to make of all this?
A baptized Catholic
Continued below.
We can be more merciful without courting sacrilege
Welcoming the funeral of transgender activist Cecilia Gentili was an act of mercy, but the Church needs to be discerning when sacrilege is likely.
www.oursundayvisitor.com
