St. Pat’s Organizes a Rare ‘Mass of Reparation’ to Seek Atonement for Hosting a Controversial Trans Funeral Seen as Sacrilegious

St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City recently held a rare “Mass of Reparation” in response to the controversial funeral service of a transgender woman, Cecilia Gentili, who was a prominent activist for sex workers, AIDS patients, and the LGBTQ community. The church claimed that it was deceived into hosting the funeral, which featured eulogies referring to Gentili as “St. Cecilia, mother of all whores.” Catholic leaders felt that the service was sacrilegious and against the Vatican’s opposition to LGBTQ and transgender rights.

The Mass of Reparation was seen as necessary to cleanse and repair the church from the perceived sins committed during the funeral. The Archdiocese of New York expressed outrage over the scandalous behavior at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and stated that they had no idea the welcome and prayer would be degraded in such a sacrilegious way. The fact that this scandal occurred at “America’s Parish Church” made it even worse.

Gentili’s funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral was believed to be the first for a transgender person at the historic church. Over 1,000 mourners attended the service, many of whom were transgender themselves. Some attendees wore miniskirts and fishnet stockings. Mass cards surrounded a photo of Gentili with words such as “transvestite,” “whore,” “blessed,” and “mother” displayed above the text of Psalm 25. The atmosphere during the funeral was lively, with mourners dancing in the aisles and a speech referring to Gentili as a “great whore” receiving a standing ovation.

The funeral also featured a performance by actor Billy Porter and eulogies in both English and Spanish. Despite the controversy surrounding the service, some Catholics in attendance did not see it as a big deal. They emphasized that Jesus welcomed everyone and that all people should be treated with love and acceptance. One worshipper even suggested that the church’s anger may have been a mistake and that everyone makes mistakes.

However, there were also those who felt conflicted about being both queer and Catholic. A British tourist, Sam Myers, expressed the difficulty of reconciling these identities and stated that it felt like a barrier. This sentiment reflects the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ individuals within religious institutions.

Overall, the controversy surrounding Cecilia Gentili’s funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral highlights the tension between religious beliefs and LGBTQ rights. The Mass of Reparation sought to address the perceived sacrilege and cleanse the church from the sins committed during the funeral. While opinions on the matter vary among Catholics, it is clear that there is a divide between those who advocate for inclusion and acceptance and those who adhere strictly to religious doctrine.