Cardinal Robert McElroy, the Archbishop of Washington, D.C., removed Monsignor Stephen Rossetti from his role as an exorcist on Wednesday [1, 2].
The decision highlights the tension within the Catholic Church regarding the intersection of spiritual warfare and modern unidentified aerial phenomena. By removing a well-known exorcist, the archdiocese is signaling a boundary between traditional religious practice and public speculation on paranormal events.
Rossetti had suggested that sightings of UFOs were the result of demonic activity [1, 2, 3]. The archbishop acted after these comments were deemed inappropriate and potentially misleading for the faithful [1, 2].
Rossetti has long been recognized as a prominent figure in the field of exorcism within the U.S. Catholic Church [1, 3]. However, the archdiocese determined that linking extraterrestrial sightings to demons crossed a line of acceptable public discourse for a priest in his position [1, 2].
The removal was announced on June 3 [1, 2]. While Rossetti remains a priest, he is no longer authorized to perform the specific duties associated with the office of the exorcist for the Archdiocese of Washington [1, 2].
The move comes as interest in UFOs continues to grow globally, often blending scientific inquiry with spiritual or conspiracy-based interpretations [3]. The archdiocese sought to ensure that the guidance provided to the congregation remains grounded in established church teaching, rather than speculative theories about demonic influence over aviation anomalies [1, 2].
“The archbishop removed the priest from his duties as an exorcist after the priest suggested that UFO sightings were caused by demons.”
This action reflects a strategic effort by the church hierarchy to maintain institutional credibility in the face of contemporary cultural phenomena. By distancing the office of the exorcist from UFO theories, the Archdiocese of Washington is attempting to prevent the conflation of supernatural theology with pseudo-scientific claims, ensuring that the church's spiritual authority is not undermined by speculative public statements.
