Cardinal McElroy Removes D.C. Priest as Exorcist After UFO-Demon Comments

Cardinal Robert McElroy, the Catholic archbishop of Washington, D.C., on Wednesday removed Monsignor Stephen Rossetti from his role as an exorcist for the archdiocese following public remarks in which Rossetti linked unidentified flying objects (UFOs) to demonic activity.

McElroy also announced that the archdiocese was severing its relationship with the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, a Washington-based nonprofit founded by Rossetti, a well-known psychologist and exorcist with a significant social media following. In a statement, McElroy said Rossetti's comments “gravely undermine the Church’s very precise teaching on the devil, demons and exorcism,” particularly after the center used social media to amplify the controversial views.

The controversy erupted from a May 29 video posted on Rossetti’s Facebook page. In it, he warned that “demons like to hide” and that “many if not most of these UFO sightings are in fact demons.” He argued that the phenomenon could be a distraction orchestrated by malevolent forces to manipulate human behavior. While he acknowledged that Catholics could believe in extraterrestrial life, he personally rejected the idea that life exists elsewhere in the universe.

Rossetti’s dismissal marks a rare disciplinary action by the archdiocese against a high-profile cleric. The decision highlights the tension between the church’s traditional teachings on spiritual warfare and the increasing public fascination with UFOs, which has gained mainstream traction in recent years following declassified government reports and congressional hearings. Church officials have long held that demons can manifest in various forms, but explicitly linking them to UFOs crosses a doctrinal line, according to McElroy.

In a statement posted on the St. Michael Center website, Rossetti expressed sadness over the decision and asked for forgiveness. “I believe it is of the utmost importance to be obedient to the Church,” he wrote, adding that he would continue to submit his work to ecclesiastical authority.

Rossetti, who has more than 148,000 Instagram followers and is a licensed psychologist, has been a prominent figure in the field of exorcism. His center has specialized in providing spiritual healing to priests dealing with personal and professional crises. In 2023, he told the Associated Press that interest in demonic possession and exorcism had surged, reflecting a broader cultural shift toward exploring the supernatural.

The archdiocese’s move is seen as an effort to reassert doctrinal clarity at a time when fringe theories, including those blending theology and ufology, are gaining traction online. The decision also underscores the challenges religious institutions face in managing the public statements of clergy who command large digital audiences.