I wrote about a controversial funeral for a transgender activist that happened last week at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
Our friends at The Pillar have provided a helpful summary of some of the behavior Catholics have objected to:
While the criticisms of Gentili’s funeral liturgy were varied, the majority of them seemed to focus on the propriety of the liturgy itself:
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That the priest celebrant consistently used feminine pronouns for Gentili, describing the deceased as “our sister,” and using a name apart from Gentili’s baptismal name,
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That the steps to the sanctuary were decorated by attendees with LGBT-themed flags and similar items,
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That participants celebrated Cecilia as a “whore,” a “puta,” and as the “mother of whores,” in a manner that seemed to glamorize prostitution,
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That the intercessory prayers included a call for “gender-affirming” healthcare,
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That prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary were interrupted, with a participant shouting “Ave Cecilia” over the “Ave Maria,” and dancing around the deceased’s casket,
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That “words of remembrance” were offered by the deceased’s male partner, which focused on their union, and by a transgender person who referred to “girls like me” from the cathedral’s pulpit,
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That some “words of remembrance” focused on political advocacy regarding transgender issues,
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That a transgender person could be seen kissing another man in the Church’s sanctuary while “words of remembrance” were offered,
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That the liturgy included raucous chanting and interruptions at various times,
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The the deceased was frequently celebrated as a “saint” during the liturgy.