The Roman Catholic archdiocese of New York City has criticized the funeral service held for transgender activist Cecilia Gentili at Saint Patrick's Cathedral. The packed funeral, which took place on a Thursday, saw mourners cheering Gentili as "the mother of all whores," leading to condemnation from the archdiocese.

Gentili, a well-known activist and actor, had passed away at the age of 52 in her Brooklyn home. She was remembered for her advocacy for sex workers and her self-proclaimed atheism, drug addiction, and authorship of a book titled Faltas: Letters to Everyone in My Hometown Who Isn't My Rapist.

The archdiocese issued a statement expressing its surprise and disappointment at the behavior of some attendees who disrupted the service with scandalous cheers. The pastor of Saint Patrick's, Enrique Salvo, clarified that the church was unaware of Gentili's background or beliefs when agreeing to host the service, which was initially described as a routine event.

Critics, including groups like CatholicVote and Nicholas Gregoris of the Priestly Society of Saint John Henry Cardinal Newman, denounced the funeral as disrespectful to the Christian faith and a desecration of the church. On the other hand, some Catholic liberals praised the church's decision to host the service for a transgender woman.

Gentili's family condemned the archdiocese for what they termed as hypocrisy and anti-trans hatred, vowing to continue celebrating her legacy of love and acceptance. The funeral, which featured a performance by Gentili's co-star Billy Porter and a celebratory atmosphere, highlighted the divide between supporters and critics of the service.

Despite the controversy, Gentili's supporters hailed the funeral as a historic moment to honor her life and contributions. The event reflected a clash of ideologies within the Catholic community regarding LGBTQ+ inclusivity and acceptance.