St. Patrick’s Cathedral says it was tricked into hosting ‘sacrilegious’ transgender activist’s wild funeral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral says it was duped into hosting a “sacrilegious” funeral for a transgender activist on Thursday, which left church brass outraged after she was eulogized as “St. Cecilia, mother of all whores.”

More than 1,000 mourners, many of whom were transgender or clad in flashy outfits, packed into the iconic cathedral to celebrate the life of Cecilia Gentili — a high-profile activist who advocated for the trans community, sex workers and HIV/AIDS patients, the New York Times reported.

Many of the attendees donned miniskirts and fishnet stockings while others wore halter tops and high-heel shoes during a sometimes rowdy service that reportedly included dancing in the aisles and a call for easier gender transition care from the pulpit by one of Gentili’s friends, according to the newspaper. 

Near the altar, mass cards surrounded a photo of Gentili with a halo over her head with the words “transvestite,” “whore,” “blessed” and “mother” above the text of Psalm 25, according to The Times.

But the glitz and glamor of the funeral sparked pushback from Catholics who felt that the ceremony made a mockery of their faith. The cathedral says it had no clue about Gintili’s background.

“Thanks to so many who have let us know they share our outrage over the scandalous behavior at a funeral here at St. Patrick’s Cathedral earlier this week,” Rev. Enrique Salvo said in a statement on the diocese’s website.