St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, one of America’s most famous churches, is under fire after hosting a funeral for self-proclaimed atheist transgender activist Cecilia Gentili last week. Leadership at St. Patrick’s is now deeming the funeral a “scandal,” and for all Catholics, it certainly should be.
Gentili, 52, who was born a male and was baptized as a Catholic, founded Transgender Equity Consulting. The organizer of the funeral, Ceyenne Doroshow, admitted to keeping details about Gentili “under wraps” while scheduling the Mass at St. Patrick’s. Doroshow noted the deceased wanted the funeral to be at St. Patrick’s because the building was “an icon, just like her.”
The New York Times reported that nearly 1,000 people attended the funeral. Many were dressed inappropriately in provocative clothing, and the assembly erupted in applause and chants several times during the service. The coffin was brought up to the sanctuary to the entrance hymn, “Amazing Grace.” Fr. Edward Dougherty then welcomed everyone to the cathedral and noted that “except on Easter Sunday, we don’t really have a crowd that is this turned out” as he gave the congregation a thumbs-up.
Small applause turned into screams and shouts by the crowd that were more suitable for a sports arena than a holy place of worship. Not long into the prayers offered, a server from the cathedral approached the priest and could be heard telling him, “No Mass, just a funeral service.” There were still readings and a homily that was followed by the
