From June 1-4, the Judean Desert will be the site of 24-hour “Pride City” festival that “aims to highlight the Dead Sea region as a permanent destination for LGBT tourists,” according to the Jerusalem Post. The event organizers want to emphasize that “Pride in Israel extends beyond the key hub of Tel Aviv,” which is widely regarded as the “gay capital” of the Middle East.
Entire hotels were purchased in advance for these four days, and the event will even include activities aimed at children.
The official X account for the government of Israel posted, “Pride rises at the lowest place on earth 🌈” in advertising the event. Catholics for Catholics directly replied to this post stating, “This demonic event will literally take place near the ancient ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah, a city destroyed in large part because of the sin of homosexuality…an event brought to you by America’s ‘greatest ally’.”
This demonic event will literally take place near the ancient ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah, a city destroyed in large part because of the sin of homosexuality…an event brought to you by America's "greatest ally".
— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) April 22, 2026
"Then the Lord rained down sulfur and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah.… https://t.co/JguCZmrR26
Other prominent Catholics on social media chimed in.
“They are literally doing this where God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for the exact same thing. What is this? A mockery? Defiance? Are they giving God the bird?” asked Shane Schaetzel of RealClearCatholic.
Matt Walsh of the Daily Wire, who sent a video address to the Catholics for Catholics gala last month, simply referred to the event announcement as “Absolutely evil and disgusting.”
Critics are also wondering if the Israeli government is showing its cards in terms of who it prioritizes, as Cardinal Pizzaballa was blocked from entering the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday due to “security concerns.”
The Jerusalem Post article with the “pride” event organizer, Ariel Cohen, did not address any security concerns, though it was mentioned that trying to attract tourists is important. This apparent conflict in assessing the security situation is further aggravated by the fact that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has frequently described the country’s ongoing military conflicts as a “seven-front war.”
John Yep, president of Catholics for Catholics, issued this statement:
“That Israel will host the largest ‘pride’ festival ever in the Middle East this June, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and knowing that our Christian country sends millions of dollars to support a country that promotes this kind of thing is a scandal. The fact that the Judean Desert – the very land where Jesus went into the wilderness to fast, pray, and do battle with Satan himself – will host 24-hour debauchery for days is incredibly insulting and sacrilegious. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Why are we aiding countries involved with spreading evil ideologies?
— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) April 22, 2026
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