Gay Pride at a Jesuit University

The Alberto Hurtado University, a Chilean Jesuit university center, released a video showing a "religious" celebration linked to "Gay Pride Month." This celebration is not an isolated event, but is part of the "Pride Week" organized by the university in June.

On Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the first "Pride Prayer" was celebrated at this Catholic university in Chile, organized by the university's "Gender, Diversity, and Equity Directors." To ensure wider publicity, the ceremony took place in the campus courtyard. The objective was to "pray for the sexual diversity community at the university."

The prayer was led by Jesuit priest Rodrigo García, head of the university's Pastoral Ministry for Sexual Diversity, who wore a multicolored stole in front of the new LGBT flag, including brown and black, representing races; pink, sky blue, and white, representing transgender; and a yellow triangle and a purple circle, representing intersexuality. The flag was blessed during the ceremony.

The priest explained that it was "a moment to give thanks to the LGBT community for what it brings to the university." He also affirmed that what he was doing was simply what the late Pope Francis wanted: "It's a religious act. That's what Pope Francis said. I didn't do anything that hasn't been said or done. It's neither a subversive nor a revolutionary act."»

In this regard, he emphasized that Pope Francis has repeatedly stated that "the Church is a place for all, all, all." The Jesuit, however, took the liberty of slightly modifying the phrase: "Now we say: all, all, everyone."

He also affirmed that the "pride prayer" was part of "a global moment commemorating the struggle of people for the rights of sexual diversity. This is why we join Pride Month, because our policy respects and promotes diversity." The Jesuit emphasized that God "in some way approves of pride" and that "Jesus will show this on Saturday," referring to the Pride March that will take place this Saturday, June 21.

The director of the Gender, Diversity, and Equity Department stated that "as part of Pride Month, we invited students, civil servants, and academics to reflect on a prayer that encourages respect, inclusion, and the dignity of all, and to understand that sexual diversity deserves a space for recognition and is an integral part of a community that belongs to everyone."  

She also explained that it seemed important to them that "it should be a Catholic university that explains to society that religion and diversity can go hand in hand." An Our Father was recited and prayers were offered to God for inclusion and the importance of sexual diversity. There were many blessings of same-sex couples, in accordance with Fiducia Suplicans. However, judging by the video, participation was quite low.

Alberto Hurtado University is the only Jesuit university in Chile, in a country with about ten Catholic universities. Founded in 1997, its goal is to "build a non-profit, diverse, pluralistic, and inclusive academic project of excellence." In the section devoted to its identity and mission, God is not mentioned at all. In March, the university organized the first Chilean congress of interdisciplinary studies on sexual and gender diversity.

That a Jesuit university would dedicate the month of June to celebrating Gay Pride, contrary to the morality of the Church, when this month is traditionally the month of the Sacred Heart, a devotion closely linked to the Society of Jesus, is beyond comprehension.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the twenty-third General Congregation of the Jesuits declared that "the Society of Jesus accepts and receives with a spirit overflowing with joy and gratitude the sweet burden that our Lord Jesus Christ has entrusted to it to practice, promote, and propagate devotion to His most divine Heart."