We were duped

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You duped me . . . and I let myself be duped.

These words from the prophet Jeremiah came to mind when I read about the death of Cecilia Gentili, a trans activist, whose outrageous funeral took place in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York recently.

The organizer of her "service" admitted to keeping it "under wraps" when the request was made for a Catholic funeral.

The issue wasn't that Gentili was trans. It was that the behavior of the crowd that gathered was sacrilegious and unbecoming of such a sacred place. I watched as two people publicly spoke, calling her SAINT Cecilia, "mother of all the wh*res."

What could have been a dignified funeral, turned into a circus. The community that gathered for her funeral, duped the Church, which had opened its space for those who were grieving the loss of someone they cared about.

Ironically, one attendee, who was interviewed, said;

"Cecilia was a fighter. She was the one to say we belong in the spaces that were not necessarily built for us, but here we are at St. Patrick's Cathedral."

Actually it was Jesus who opened up these spaces. It was Jesus, the head of the Church, who went into the homes of people who were considered outsiders and expressed his love to, and for, them.

As a Church, can we do better? Of course. But this was an outright aggression against the Church and an attempt to make a mockery of our faith. No wonder the Church had to hold a rare "Mass of Reparation" to make amends for the Church and the sinful actions that were on display that day by the attendees.

Indeed, we were duped. 
 
Please pray for those who planned, attended and engaged in such a shameful display of political activism, dishonoring the holy name of Jesus.

Even after that disgusting display, Jesus himself would have mercy on those who attacked him in his Church, if only they would "turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel."  
 
Penance. Forgiveness. Love and Mercy.  Those form the foundation of Lent.

God help us.  These are not easy.

Janet Cassidy
janetcassidy.com
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