NY Archdiocese Condemns Funeral for Transgender Activist, Claims Church Was Deceived

Protect and strengthen democratic society today and for the future. Invest in AllSides
Protect and strengthen democratic society today and for the future. Invest in AllSides
Protect and strengthen democratic society today and for the future. Invest in AllSides

See How AllSides Rates Other Media Outlets

We have rated the bias of nearly 600 outlets and writers!
See some of the most popular below:

Want to see more?
Check out the AllSides Media Bias Chart, or go to our Media Bias Ratings page to see everything.

See How AllSides Rates Other Media Outlets

We have rated the bias of nearly 600 outlets and writers!
See some of the most popular below:

Want to see more?
Check out the AllSides Media Bias Chart, or go to our Media Bias Ratings page to see everything.

See How AllSides Rates Other Media Outlets

We have rated the bias of nearly 600 outlets and writers!
See some of the most popular below:

Want to see more?
Check out the AllSides Media Bias Chart, or go to our Media Bias Ratings page to see everything.

Invest in

Invest in

Invest in

What America Do We Want to Be?

Join Living Room Conversations, our civil dialogue partner, and America Indivisible for a nationwide conversation on April 13, Thomas Jefferson’s 276th birthday. "Reckoning with Jefferson: A Nationwide Conversation on Race, Religion, and the America We Want to Be" will be held via in-person and online video discussions. Sign up today!

What America Do We Want to Be?

Join Living Room Conversations, our civil dialogue partner, and America Indivisible for a nationwide conversation on April 13, Thomas Jefferson’s 276th birthday. "Reckoning with Jefferson: A Nationwide Conversation on Race, Religion, and the America We Want to Be" will be held via in-person and online video discussions. Sign up today!

What America Do We Want to Be?

Join Living Room Conversations, our civil dialogue partner, and America Indivisible for a nationwide conversation on April 13, Thomas Jefferson’s 276th birthday. "Reckoning with Jefferson: A Nationwide Conversation on Race, Religion, and the America We Want to Be" will be held via in-person and online video discussions. Sign up today!

Practical, engaging webinars designed to transform how you approach current events and facilitate productive classroom discussions.

The Art of Discussion - Civic Learning Week

Wednesday March 12, 2025 | 6:00 PM Eastern Time

Learn how to facilitate respectful dialogue across political and social divides using Mismatch, our platform for connecting students with diverse viewpoints.

Register for the webinar PD Benefits Page
 

Practical, engaging webinars designed to transform how you approach current events and facilitate productive classroom discussions.

The Art of Discussion - Civic Learning Week

Wednesday March 12, 2025 | 6:00 PM Eastern Time

Learn how to facilitate respectful dialogue across political and social divides using Mismatch, our platform for connecting students with diverse viewpoints.

Register for the webinar PD Benefits Page
 

Practical, engaging webinars designed to transform how you approach current events and facilitate productive classroom discussions.

The Art of Discussion - Civic Learning Week

Wednesday March 12, 2025 | 6:00 PM Eastern Time

Learn how to facilitate respectful dialogue across political and social divides using Mismatch, our platform for connecting students with diverse viewpoints.

Register for the webinar PD Benefits Page
 

See How AllSides Rates Other Media Outlets

We have rated the bias of nearly 600 outlets and writers!

See some of the most popular below:

Want to see more?

Check out the AllSides Media Bias Chart, or go to our Media Bias Ratings page to see everything.

See How AllSides Rates Other Media Outlets

We have rated the bias of nearly 600 outlets and writers!

See some of the most popular below:

Want to see more?

Check out the AllSides Media Bias Chart, or go to our Media Bias Ratings page to see everything.

See How AllSides Rates Other Media Outlets

We have rated the bias of nearly 600 outlets and writers!

See some of the most popular below:

Want to see more?

Check out the AllSides Media Bias Chart, or go to our Media Bias Ratings page to see everything.

 

 

 

Support AllSides

Please consider becoming a sustaining member or making a one-time donation to help keep AllSides online.

Become a Sustaining Member

Make a one-time donation.

Support AllSides

Please consider becoming a sustaining member or making a one-time donation to help keep AllSides online.

Become a Sustaining Member

Make a one-time donation.

Support AllSides

Please consider becoming a sustaining member or making a one-time donation to help keep AllSides online.

Become a Sustaining Member

Make a one-time donation.

A funeral for a transgender activist held at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York garnered backlash and a denunciation from the New York Archdiocese.

Details: Following the funeral for transgender activist Cecilia Gentili, the New York Archdiocese condemned the “scandalous behavior” during the service, with a spokesperson for the Archdiocese citing one attendee reportedly calling Gentili the “the mother of all whores” during the service. Rev. Enrique Salvo told reporters that the Cathedral was unfamiliar with Gentili’s work and did not know she was an atheist.

Key Quotes: Following the service, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral released a statement reading, “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.” In response, the family of Gentili released a statement reading, “We brought precious life and radical joy to the Cathedral in historic defiance of the Church’s hypocrisy and anti-trans hatred. Cecilia Gentili’s funeral service, which filled the pews in ways the Cathedral only can during Easter service and NYPD funerals, was a reflection of the love she had for her community and a testament to the impact of her tireless advocacy.”

How the Media Covered It: The Associated Press (Lean Left bias) labeled Gentili a “renowned transgender activist” and extensively detailed her advocacy work. The Daily Caller (Right bias) reported that the funeral organizers “deceived” the Cathedral and described Gentili as a “man identifying as a woman.”

Topics
Publish
Publish

The funeral of a renowned transgender activist in a New York cathedral elicited a denunciation of the event by a senior church official, who called the Mass a scandal within one of the preeminent houses of worship in U.S. Catholicism.

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York condemned the funeral of Cecilia Gentili, which was held in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan and drew a large audience on Thursday.

Transgender activists who held a funeral at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City allegedly deceived church officials when making the request for the service, according to video footage.

Activists and supporters held a funeral Thursday for a man identifying as a woman, Cecilia Gentili, a well-known advocate who lobbied for pro-transgender legislation at the state level. The iconic Catholic cathedral faced intense criticism after images and clips of the service circulated online, according to Time magazine.

The New York Archdiocese on Saturday condemned the “scandalous behavior” at a funeral held Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for transgender community activist Cecilia Gentili.

In a statement Saturday, Rev. Enrique Salvo said the Cathedral was not made aware Gentili was reportedly an avowed atheist and that it had not known about her identify before the service.