Catholics were outraged by the shocking February 15 video of a funeral service for a flagrant transgender activist at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) responded with petitions and three Rosaries of reparation in front of the cathedral on Feb. 24-26. Its young activists made their voices heard on the busy Fifth Avenue.
A funeral video on Facebook showed a large crowd of nearly 1400 LGBTQ-friendly activists cheering as Father Edward Dougherty officiated at the funeral service of the atheist activist “Cecilia” Gentili who was a biological man.
Some of the behavior at the funeral included transgenders hugging and kissing in the sanctuary. One speaker referred to Gentili as the “Mother of all whores” to the applause of all present. In a truly unspeakable blasphemy, some changed the hymn “Ave Maria” to “Ave Cecilia” a reference to the individual who had died. At the end, Fr. Dougherty finished by referring to the person as a woman, saying: “Let us take leave of our sister Cecilia.” 1
Acts of Public Reparation
Reaction from the American Catholic world was swift. Tens of thousands of people signed petitions on the various TFP websites.
In light of such horrific behavior which defiled the House of God and the honor of God and his Blessed Mother, the American TFP and its America Needs Fatima campaign organized three rosary rallies in reparation. A public outrage called for public acts of reparation.
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The first rally was held on Saturday, February 24 at noon in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. About 150 people attended the rally.
Many people gave thumbs up to the rally participants as they passed by. It was clear that the locals knew why the rosary rally was being held. A Carmelite priest from Middletown, New York gave everyone a blessing at the end. A similar rally took place on the next day, Sunday, at noon.
On Monday, February 26, volunteers of TFP Student Action (TFP) traveled up from its headquarters in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania to hold another Rosary rally of reparation. Nearly 100 people were present for the rosary rally at the steps of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
“It was amazing to see the amount of people who made the sign of the Cross or joined in praying the Hail Mary as they walked by,” said Thomas Shibler who was holding a banner with a message of reparation for the sacrilege. Young TFP members led the crowd in the Rosary interspersed with chants of “Reparation! Reparation! Reparation!” Finishing the rally, the TFP bagpipers played “God Bless America” while the crowd sang along.
“We pray that God accepts these acts of reparation,” commented John Ritchie, TFP Student Action director. “God and Our Lady are much offended by the crisis in the world and the Church today.”
Tens of thousands witnessed this act of reparation on Fifth Avenue. Catholics cannot remain silent in the face of such acts.