Archdiocese of NY denounces funeral service for trans activist

ONE BY THE NEW YORK ARCHDIOCESE, WHICH IS NOW OUTRAGED THAT THE FUNERAL WAS HELD THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND CALLING THE SERVICE SACRILEGIOUS. BUT THE FRIENDS OF THE ACTIVIST CECILIA GENTILI, THEY CLAIM THEY WERE MAKING A POINT. >> HERE'S CRYSTAL CRANMORE. I THINK WHEN ONE OF THE EULOGISTS, YOU KNOW, USED THE WORD FOR UM, FOR PROSTITUTE IN SPANISH, AND I LOOKED AT THE PERSON SITTING NEXT TO ME AND SAID, WAIT TILL THEY TRANSLATE THAT THE FUNERAL MASS FOR TRANSGENDER ACTIVISTS CECILIA GENTILI AT SAINT PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL SPARKED OUTRAGE AFTER THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DEEMED THE SERVICE SCANDALOUS. >> HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FILLED THE PEWS IN HER HONOR LAST THURSDAY. AT THE WITH LOVE AND ENTHUSIASM FOR A WOMAN, THEY SAY CHANGE THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS. >> IT WAS MORE CELEBRATORY THAN WE NORMALLY SEE IN A CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND ACTUALLY WAS KIND OF REFRESHING. >> BUT THE ARCHDIOCESE SAW IT AS ANYTHING BUT HOLDING A MASS OF REPARATION SUNDAY TO SANCTIFY THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH SAID IN A STATEMENT. 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. >> IT'S A SAD THING THAT TO SEE THAT HAPPENING BECAUSE YOU WANT TO OPEN SPACE FOR EVERYBODY AND MAKE EVERYTHING INCLUSIVE AS LONG AS EVERYONE RESPECTS EACH OTHER. >> I'M AGAINST ALL SORTS OF PREJUDICE, ALL SORTS OF PREJUDICE. WE ARE ALL EQUALS. >> ORIGINALLY FROM ARGENTINA, GENTILI CAME TO THE UNITED STATES FOR A SAFER LIFE AS A TRANSGENDER WOMAN. SHE WORKED AS A SEX WORKER AND TURNED TO DRUG USE. >> SHE WAS ONE OF THE MOST RESILIENT PEOPLE I'VE MET. >> GENTILI STRUGGLES TURNED TO ADVOCACY, RAISING MORE THAN $15 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR THE TRANS COMMUNITY. WHILE THOSE CLOSEST TO HER SAY THEY'RE HURT BY THE CHURCH'S REACTION, THEY WANT THE FOCUS TO BE ON CONTINUING GENTILI'S FIGHT FOR EQUALITY. >> THIS IS NOT HER LEGACY. HER LEGACY IS THE LIVES THAT SHE CHANGED. >> EVEN NOW, GENTILI'S ADVOCACY WORK CONTINUES. LOVED ONES WILL

Channel: Eyewitness News ABC7NY

Views: 60,016

Keywords: news, st patricks cathedral, funeral service, cecilia gentili, transgender activist funeral, lgbtq, lgbtq catholic church, nyc, st patricks church, trans funeral, trans activist

Id: zLicSIgSOts

Length: 2min 24sec (144 seconds)

Published: Mon Feb 19 2024