A Catholic archbishop has removed a prominent exorcist from his position following controversial public comments that linked UFO sightings to demonic activity. Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of Washington issued a statement on the archdiocese's website, announcing that Monsignor Stephen Rossetti was dismissed as an exorcist and that all ties with the Saint Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal in Washington, D.C., have been severed.
Reason for Removal
McElroy explained that Rossetti's statements, made in a May 29 video shared on Facebook and YouTube, "gravely undermine the Church's very precise teaching on the devil, demons and exorcism." In the video, Rossetti claimed that "many, if not most of these UFO sightings are, in fact, demons" and that these entities "can do things that we can't do, such as the speed and all sorts of things that human beings can't do." He warned that demons like to hide and manipulate people into doing evil.
Rossetti's Response
The exorcist of nearly 20 years responded on the St. Michael's Center website, expressing sadness over the decision. "I ask forgiveness for any ways that I have not been faithful to the teachings of the Church's Magisterium, particularly in the cited video on 'aliens and the demonic,'" he wrote. He affirmed his commitment to obedience and noted his gratitude for 19 years of ministry in the Archdiocese of Washington. The St. Michael Center, which conducts spiritual education and training, plans to continue its work elsewhere.
The video that prompted the dismissal has since been removed from social media platforms.
