Trans Funeral Organizer: 'We Want An Apology from Catholic Church'

In an ironic turn of events, LGBT activists are demanding a public apology from St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and the Catholic Church after the funeral of a male using the pseudonym "Cecilia Gentili," a transgender activist, and actor, was allegedly cut short by the Cathedral during the service. 

The organization Gays & Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society (GLITS) has called for an explanation from the Cathedral regarding what they describe as "painfully dismissive and exclusionary language" used in a statement after the incident. 

During the funeral, participants, many of them wearing extravagant drag, repeatedly interrupted the priest and broke into loud chants. One reveler even took to the podium to pray for "access" to "gender-affirming healthcare," a cause that the Catholic Church opposes. 

The founder of GLITS, a man who calls himself "Ceyenne Doroshow," organized the event and later admitted to deceiving the Cathedral by keeping details about Gentili "under wraps" before the gathering. In response, St. Patrick’s Cathedral expressed "outrage" at having been deceived and assured concerned Catholics that a Mass of reparation had been said at the Cathedral since the incident.

The Cathedral's actions have sparked controversy, with GLITS claiming that St. Patrick’s Cathedral was filled with over 1,400 mourners and community members for Cecilia Gentili's funeral. However, his service ended an hour earlier than scheduled, denying him the full funeral mass that had been agreed upon. GLITS also disputes the Cathedral's narrative that they were manipulated by funeral organizers regarding Gentili's identity, stating that they had advised Cathedral staff to look up Cecilia Gentili's work and community service.

Activist Ceyenne Doroshow gave a small press conference giving his narrative claiming that the Catholic Church knew Gentili was a transexual and about his life. Doroshow claimed the Archdiocese's statement was offensive, hateful, and contradicted Fiducia Supplicans stating Pope Francis okayed "Same-sex Marriage." This is of course not true. Doroshow continued claiming that it was none of the staff of St. Patrick's cathedral what was "in between Cecilia's legs" implying gender.  He claims the cathedral discriminated against the trans community after admitted he did deceive the cathedral about the deceased.  Moreover, he continued to tell a story about being raised Catholic and going to school only to be molested by another student and a security guard. 

The situation highlights tensions between LGBTQ activists and religious institutions, emphasizing the need for respectful dialogue and understanding across different perspectives.

Doroshow is right to a certain extent. The Archdiocese, particularly the staff at St. Patrick's Cathedral did botch things up.  Canon Law is clear:

§3. In the prudent judgment of the local ordinary, ecclesiastical funerals can be granted to baptized persons who are enrolled in a non-Catholic Church or ecclesial community unless their intention is evidently to the contrary and provided that their own minister is not available. 

Can. 1184 §1. Unless they gave some signs of repentance before death, the following must be deprived of ecclesiastical funerals: 1/ notorious apostates, heretics, and schismatics; 2/ those who chose the cremation of their bodies for reasons contrary to Christian faith; 3/ other manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful. §2. If any doubt occurs, the local ordinary is to be consulted, and his judgment must be followed. 

Can. 1185 Any funeral Mass must also be denied a person who is excluded from ecclesiastical funerals.

A baptism certificate should have been requested and produced. The situation should have been vetted. If Doroshow is being truthful that he told the staff that Gentili was an activist, then they should have done their research.  Moreover, once attendees entered the Cathedral, the staff should have known this event would be problematic.  They should have canceled right on the spot and not let it go on.  It seems the staff did not think and just took the donation.

However, Doroshow did admit to deceiving the staff so he has blame as well. He should have done his own research. If he claims Gentili battled the Catholic Church for decades then he should have known the Church's stance on homosexuality. He should have researched what Fiducia Supplicans is and what it really says. Doroshow is under the impression it is a license to bless so-called Same-Sex Unions.  As many Catholics showed concern about, the declaration would cause confusion and make people think that the Church changed its stance on marriage.  We are seeing the bad fruits of the wording and promotion of Fiducia Supplicans at play. 

Priests like James Martin of the Jesuit order are also not helping by playing word games and giving false hope to the LGBTQIA community thinking the Church is changing her teachings on homosexuality.  We can have bridges, but like with real ones, the linking destinations will always be the same.  The George Washington Bridge will always link the Bronx with New Jersey.  We can extend bridges to the LGBTQIA community, but our side will still have the same destination: Gospel Truth.  We cannot change this.  

It seems this drama or story is not over and will continue. As time moves on, it seems this funeral was a stunt and not a genuine goodbye to the trans community's "icon."  Time will tell.  I will update this post if new details come along.

What do you think? Post your comment below on Disqus.  Be sure to follow the rules so your comment can go through.  

Sources:

Advocates Demand Catholic Officials Apologize for Calling Cecilia Gentili’s Funeral a “Scandal” | Them

N.Y. Archdiocese condemns a trans activist Cecilia Gentili’s funeral - The Washington Post

LGBT Activists to Demand Public Apology from St. Patrick’s Cathedral - CatholicVote org

Advocates Demand Catholic Officials Apologize for Calling Cecilia Gentili’s Funeral a “Scandal” (yahoo.com)

  

Trans Desecrate St. Patrick's Cathedral During Funeral

Just when you think things could not get any worse.  On February 15, 2024 just a day after Ash Wednesday and the onset of Lent, a horrific Funeral Mass took place where trans individuals filled St. Patrick's Cathedral -the seat of the Archbishop of New York- and desecrated it with their raucous display.  The Funeral was held for "Cecilia Gentili" a "high-profile" trans-activist and sex-worker advocate of all people. 

This brought about many Catholics voicing their anger and concern on social media that the holy site where Venerable Pierre Toussaint and others are buried was misused to advance an anti-Catholic ideological agenda. Gentili advocated for "gender identity" and promoted prostitution. Those who organized the funeral did not disclose to the cathedral staff that Gentili, 52 who died on February 6 was born a biological man but later identified as a woman.  

Ceyeye Doroshow, the funeral organizer said, "I kept it under wraps" to the New York Times.  Doroshow and other trans activists requested that the funeral be held at St. Patrick's because "it is an icon" and this is what they felt the deceased was.  The celebrant Father Edward Dougherty referred to Gentili using feminine pronouns and called him "our sister."  At the prayer of the faithful, the petitioners prayed for "more gender-affirming health care" and also referred to Gentili as a "madre de putas" or "mother of whores/prostitutes" in Spanish.  

The cathedral staff did not offer comment other than forwarding inquiries to the Archdiocese of New York. Joseph Zwilling, the long-time spokesman for the archdiocese simple said, "a funeral is one of the corporal works of mercy which are a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise."  Father James Martin of the Jesuit order said, “To celebrate the funeral Mass [sic] of a transgender woman at St. Patrick’s is a powerful reminder, during Lent, that LGBTQ people are as much a part of the church as anyone else,” he told The New York Times. “I wonder if it would have happened a generation ago.”  

During the Mass, a rendition of "Ave Maria" by the cantor of the cathedral was interupted with shouts of "Ave Cecilia" and attendees danced down the center of the cathedral. Most attendees were scantily dressed.   Ironically, Gentili had identified as an atheist after participating in Catholic parishes and in Baptist communities but did retain somewhat of an interest in God. 

Here is a video clip of the funeral Mass:

 

Yesterday, St. Patrick's Cathedral hosted the funeral of Cecilia Gentili, a transgender, atheist prostitute. Funeral was attended by hundreds of trans activists in thongs/fishnet/halter tops/fur. They celebrated the dead prostitute by mocking St. Cecilia, saying: "This whore.… pic.twitter.com/qMeUA0rfhK

— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) February 16, 2024

 

This story got me sick to my stomach. To think that the Archdiocese of New York allowed this is disturbing and shows the poor state of the Catholic Church.  Yes, we must practice the Works of Mercy as Joseph Zwilling stated, but he fails to understand that this display was not it. It was a travesty, a mockery, and an irreverent service that should never have been allowed. Granted, it seems based on the organizers that they intentionally kept the cathedral staff in the dark, however, just the mere presence of scantily dressed transgender individuals should have been enough to suspend the service or demand that it be "cleaned up." 

Gentili's First Communion

As usual, Cardinal Dolan is an absentee and oblivious. He has proven not to be a shepherd of the Church but a complacent careerist who wants to be good to everyone at the cost of the Catholic faith. Father James Martin also fails to understand that this does nothing to promote Christ or the Catholic faith.  The Catholic Church does not exist to entertain and cater to the world. Had this deceased activist repented and reconciled with God and the Church then Father's words and the words of Zwilling would have made more sense. However, this was clearly not the case. Gentili was an atheist!  Are the people at the cathedral and Archdiocese cognitively challenged?  For decades, funerals were denied to mobsters because of their criminal lives and refusal to repent. Many were even denied burial in Catholic cemeteries, yet this funeral Mass for a transgender man is allowed to take place.

All Catholics have a right to be upset. Their righteous anger should not die down. They should flood the Archdiocese of New York and demand that Cardinal Dolan resign, the celebrate be suspended and the staff of the cathedral who aided in planning this funeral be fired.  Enough is enough. God will not be mocked!  I would not be surprised if this funeral was allowed to proceed after checks came in. Money talks.  

To think that this is the place where the late Cardinal John Joseph O'Connor lived, said Mass and spoke loudly against the homosexual agenda. He must be rolling in his grave seeing from beyond what has become of his former see. 

He was a champion of the Church and protested the participation of the LGBT movement in the St. Patrick's Day parade and worked hard to stop the Pride March. He angered the community so much that they stormed the cathedral a few times and desecrated the Holy Communion, throwing the crushed hosts saying "This is what I think of your God."  How times have changed for the worse?  Now the Archdiocese welcomes this perversion and celebrates it.  The Catholic Church honoring transgenderism and prostitution. What is going on!?

This funeral should have been canceled the moment trans people showed up dressed in that manner and scantily.  Canon law is clear:

Can. 1184 §1. Unless they gave some signs of repentance before death, the following must be deprived of ecclesiastical funerals:

1/ notorious apostates, heretics, and schismatics;

2/ those who chose the cremation of their bodies for reasons contrary to Christian faith;

3/ other manifest sinners who cannot be granted ecclesiastical funerals without public scandal of the faithful.

§2. If any doubt occurs, the local ordinary is to be consulted, and his judgment must be followed.

Can. 1185 Any funeral Mass must also be denied a person who is excluded from ecclesiastical funerals.

UPDATE FEBRUARY 17, 2024

The rector of St. Patrick's Cathedral issued this statement via X (Formerly Twitter):

 

Statement from Fr. Enrique Salvo pic.twitter.com/I5LRDxB1ro

— StPatsNYC (@StPatsNYC) February 17, 2024

The statement is also on the archdiocese's website (Statement of The Very Rev. Enrique Salvo, Pastor, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral  - Archdiocese of New York (archny.org)).  The Archdiocese of New York is now condemning the funeral service and offered a Mass of Reparation.  Nothing was said of how this would be prevented in the future. It will not be the last time this will happen!

UPDATE February 20,2024:
Finally, Cardinal Dolan the Archbishop spoke out condemning the funeral and antics of the transgender community on February 15, 2024. However, he applauded the priest who presided calling him a "hero."

Updated source (Cardinal Dolan denounces funeral for trans activist Cecilia Gentili held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (msn.com))

What do you think? Post your comment below on Disqus.  Be sure to follow the rules so your comment can go through.  

Source:

Irreverent funeral service at St. Patrick's Cathedral for trans activist sparks outcry | Catholic News Agency

UPDATED SOURCE February 17,2024

https://www.foxnews.com/us/new-york-archdiocese-condemns-scandalous-sacrilegious-behavior-following-trans-activist-funeral

https://www.ncregister.com/cna/st-patricks-cathedral-offers-reparation-mass-after-scandalous-funeral-for-trans-activist

NY Archdiocese Condemns Funeral of Cecilia Gentili, a Transgender Activist - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Archdiocese of New York condemns funeral for transgender activist Cecilia Gentili at St. Patrick's Cathedral (msn.com)

St. Patrick

Saint Patrick, known as the "Apostle of Ireland," was born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century. At the age of 16, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland. 

He spent six years there before escaping and returning to his family. After becoming a cleric, he returned to northern and western Ireland. In later life, he served as a bishop. By the seventh century, he had already come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland.

Saint Patrick's efforts against the druids are well recorded; he converted many Irish to Christianity. The Declaration, which is attributed to Patrick, is the most important document regarding his life. In it, he writes of his life and mission. He explains that he was called to be a bishop in Ireland to help convert pagan inhabitants to Christianity.

The Miracles of St. Patrick

St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is celebrated worldwide for his missionary work and the numerous miracles attributed to him. His life and deeds have been a source of inspiration and reverence for centuries.

One of the most famous miracles associated with St. Patrick is the legend of him driving all the snakes out of Ireland. It is said that he stood on a hill, used a wooden staff to herd them into the sea, and banished them from the island forever.

Another remarkable miracle attributed to St. Patrick is the story of him raising people from the dead. Accounts from various sources suggest that he brought as many as 33 people back to life, a testament to his extraordinary powers.

St. Patrick is also credited with using the three-leafed shamrock to explain the concept of the Holy Trinity to the Irish pagans. The shamrock, which has become a symbol of Ireland and St. Patrick's Day, was used to represent how the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit could all exist as separate elements of the same entity.

His miracles are not just limited to these well-known tales; numerous other miraculous healings and acts are attributed to him. These stories have been passed down through generations and continue to play a significant role in Irish culture and heritage.

St. Patrick's legacy is one of faith, perseverance, and transformation. His miraculous deeds are believed by many to be true, while others view them as symbolic stories that carry deeper meanings about life and spirituality.

Regardless of one's beliefs, the miracles of St. Patrick remain an integral part of his story and continue to inspire people around the world.

Patrick's Day is celebrated on 17 March, commemorating Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and wearing green attire or shamrocks. The Archdiocese of New York has St. Patrick as its patron and its seat, St. Patrick's Cathedral is named after him.  There is also another older cathedral named after him on Mulberry Street.  

The introduction of Christianity had a profound impact on Irish culture, reshaping it in numerous ways. The new religion brought with it a different set of values and practices that gradually became intertwined with the existing Irish traditions.

One of the most significant changes was the shift from a polytheistic belief system to a monotheistic one. This transition was facilitated by St. Patrick and other missionaries who often incorporated elements of Irish spirituality into Christian practices, making it more acceptable to the local population.

Christianity also introduced a new social structure centered around monastic communities which became hubs of learning and culture. These monasteries played a crucial role in preserving not only religious texts but also secular knowledge during the Dark Ages. They were instrumental in the spread of literacy and education throughout Ireland.

The Christian calendar replaced many of the traditional Celtic festivals with Christian holidays, such as Easter and Christmas. However, some pre-Christian festivals were Christianized rather than replaced, like Samhain becoming All Saints' Day.

Furthermore, Christianity brought a new moral framework that emphasized virtues like charity, humility, and forgiveness. These principles were reflected in the laws and social norms that developed under Christian influence.

Overall, Christianity's arrival led to a blending of cultures that created a distinct Irish identity, combining elements of the old beliefs with the new faith. This cultural synthesis has left a lasting legacy on Irish history and society.

Unfortunately, the legacy of St. Patrick and his evangelization effort is being erased in Ireland and in the Americas. Parades once meant to honor him are more like celebrations of Irish culture than the saint and Christianity. Gay factions are allowed to march in it after decades of being banned. Ireland legalized abortion and so-called same-sex marriage and has been pushing the Catholic Church back in favor of progressivism and liberalism. 

The day has also been hijacked by individuals pushing alcoholism and other vices that are dangerous to one's health and the lives of others. Alcohol does nothing but harm the body, break up families and relationships, and cause accidents that kill hundreds of thousands a year. It also contributes to cancer and other deadly diseases. There is nothing beneficial about drinking beer or any alcoholic beverages. It is just a mindless vice perpetuated by mindless people who live for vices.  

Let us ask St. Patrick's assistance and prayers as we face a new Paganism that is more cunning and disastrous than the one he faced in Ireland.  

References:

1. "Confessio of Saint Patrick" - Translated by Ludwig Bieler

2. "The Life of Saint Patrick" - E.A. Thompson

3. "Saint Patrick: A Visual Celebration" - Brian de Breffny

- "St. Patrick." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.

- "St. Patrick's Day." History.com. A&E Television Networks.

- "Who Was Saint Patrick?" Christian History | Learn the History of Christianity & the Church.

Dirty Hands

This weekend, gay activist Joseph Amodeo has conducted a stunt in an attempt to bait the Church. He posted an event on Facebook calling on LGBT and their supports to come to St. Patrick's Cathedral with dirty hands in order to protest comments made by Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of new York.

You may be wondering what is this about dirty hands; well, it originates from Cardinal Dolan's blog post found here:  All are Welcome

In it, the Cardinal writes about how all are welcome to the Catholic Church.  However, this welcome does not mean that all should continue their lives of sin, but must be open to conversion and holiness.  The Church is not an "anything goes," as the Cardinal put it.  He writes, "We are part of a Church where, yes, all are welcome, but, no, not a Church of anything goes"

Cardinal Dolan made a connection between washing one's hands before coming to the dinner table and keeping ourselves clean before participating at the table of the Lord (The Mass).  Amodeo took offense to this believing it to be some sort of a Catholic spiritually elitist statement and organized a protest where protesters would enter the Cathedral with their hands dirty.

Security at the cathedral prevented the protesters from entering as well as the NYPD.  Amodeo is crying foul and is using this to insinuate the Church as "cold and unchristian."  He writes on the Huffington post, "Today, myself and others knocked at the door of St. Patrick's Cathedral, but the door was not opened, rather it was slammed in our faces. As I begin to write this article, I'm cognizant of the raw emotions that I feel deep inside my heart. It's a feeling that I'm unfamiliar with, because until today, I have never been denied a seat at Christ's table. In fact, today marks the first day that I have ever felt disowned, abandoned, and lost."

Amodeo is playing the victim as usual.  Does he think Catholics are stupid?  We understood the Cardinal's post on his blog.  We all know as Catholics that we have to be in the state of grace in order to receive more graces.  Receiving the Holy Eucharist while in Mortal Sin is a Sacrilege.  This is nothing new in Catholicism.  Cardinal Dolan is correct in stating that we "have to have our hands clean" before participating at the Lord's table.  This is not an attack on the LGBT community or anyone else.  This is a reality in Christianity.  Amodeo is obviously ignorant in theology and Catholic teaching.

Jesus washed the feet of the Disciples before the Last Supper showing that we all must be clean before receiving Him.

Yes, Jesus ate with sinners and what not.  I have heard this argument over and over.  However, this does not mean that Jesus endorsed their behavior.  The difference is that Jesus can come to sinners because He is the savior.  However, we when approaching Him must come with a sincere contrite heart open to conversion and holiness.  Approaching the Lord with "dirty hands" is disrespectful and a complete statement of rebellion against all that Christ has taught us in regards to "go and sin no more." (John 8:11)


Amodeo quotes Matthew 7:7-8 which speaks of knocking and the door will be open to you; however he forgets that Jesus has limits on who can enter the Temple of the Lord.  In Matthew 21: 12-13 we read how Jesus was upset at how money lenders were using the House of the Lord for the wrong reason: bartering/commerce.  He literally kicked them out of His house.  Was Christ being uncharitable by doing this?  No, of course not!  He was kicking out those who were using the House of the Lord for things unrelated to God.

Similarly, Amodeo and his LGBT supporters were not allowed to enter because they wanted to use the Lord's House for a ridiculous purpose.  Their intention was to mock Christ and His Church; to make Christ and His Church look like bigots in the eyes of the world.

This is not the first time Amodeo has tried this stunt.  April of 2012, Amodeo resigned from the Catholic Charities board in protest to Cardinal Dolan's suppose silence to a request to help LGBT youth.  Read more here: http://www.sacerdotus.com/2012/04/lgbt-vs-cardinal-dolan.html

Amodeo is obviously on the side of the LGBT, not Christ and his Catholic Church.  His cognitive dissonance is obvious and troubling.  He must be mature and pick ONE side.

Amodeo writes, "I have never been denied a seat at Christ's table."  Well that was because at that time you were not doing something stupid.  You were actually coming to Mass to experience a conversion, not convert Christ and His Church into a LGBT image.

I call on all Catholics to protest Amodeo's actions and remind him that he should only serve the Lord, not the LGBT agenda.  He should open the doors to conversion to the LGBT people and help them wash their hands instead of encouraging their lifestyle which is killing them physically and spiritually.  

Joseph's Twitter:  https://twitter.com/josephamodeo
Event Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/514781651916743/515772571817651



Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-amodeo/cardinal-dolan-denies-cat_b_3219675.html#slide=2412229