St. Patrick’s Cathedral Holds Mass of Reparation to Atone for Hosting “Sacrilegious” Trans Funeral
Published: Feb. 18, 2024, 4:58 p.m. ET
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St. Patrick’s Cathedral, one of the historical landmarks of the United States, held a rare “Mass of Reparation” in an effort to atone for the controversial funeral service of a transgender woman held at the sacred site. The Catholic leaders denounced the funeral of Cecilia Gentili, a prominent transgender activist, as “sacrilegious” and claimed that they were deceived into hosting the event.
The funeral service for Cecilia Gentili, an Argentine transgender activist and advocate for the rights of sex workers, AIDS patients, and the LGBTQ community, took place at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Midtown Manhattan. The church alleges that they were misled into becoming the site for the service, which included eulogies referring to Cecilia as “St. Cecilia, mother of all whores.”
The Catholic officials quickly organized a Mass of Reparation to clean and purify the church of the perceived wrongdoing associated with the transgender funeral. This event reflects the unwavering stance of the Vatican against LGBTQ and transgender rights.
In response to the controversy, Reverend Enrique Salvo, speaking on behalf of the Archdiocese of New York, expressed indignation and outrage at the disrespectful nature of the funeral. He stated, “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. That such a scandal occurred at ‘America’s Parish Church’ makes it worse.”
Organizers of Gentili’s funeral highlighted that it was believed to be the first funeral service for a transgender person held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The event drew over 1,000 mourners, many of whom were transgender themselves, and witnessed unconventional practices such as dancing in the aisles. The service featured a symbolic arrangement of Mass cards surrounding a photo of Gentili, and a moment where a person in non-traditional attire addressed the crowd, honoring Cecilia’s legacy.
The funeral program also included the performance of the song “This Day” by actor Billy Porter, as well as eulogies delivered in both English and Spanish. While the Catholic officials expressed their disapproval of the memorial, some attendees of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday did not perceive it as an issue. Michael Horlan, a Catholic lawyer from Ireland, remarked, “[Trans people] are human beings like the rest of us. Jesus welcomed everybody. He didn’t say if you’re one thing or another, you’re outside the tent.”
While the Catholic Church’s reaction has drawn attention, some worshippers shared a more inclusive perspective. Mark Faulkner, attending Mass with his wife, expressed, “I consider all lives sacred. We all have shortcomings, and our Lord’s mercy covers all. I think all people are sacred, and we are called to love our neighbor.”
The issue of reconciling one’s Catholic faith with an LGBTQ identity raised various opinions. Sam Myers, a British tourist who identifies as gay, spoke of the apparent conflict, stating, “It’s difficult, isn’t it? [Being] queer and Catholic might be incompatible. Many queer people might consider themselves spiritual on a personal level, but it remains a barrier.”
The controversial funeral at St. Patrick’s has ignited a conversation about the integration of diverse identities within religious spaces. Time will tell whether this incident will have a lasting impact on the Catholic Church’s approach to transgender and LGBTQ communities.
