Exorcist Priest Removed from Position by Catholic Church

635 Views | 13 Replies | Last: 2 hrs ago by Thaddeus73
UTExan
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Reason? He called UFOs being demons "gravely undermining" church teachings.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/06/04/washington-archdiocese-removes-monsignor-stephen-rossetti-over-ufo-comments/

Quote:

" The archbishop of Washington, D.C., on Wednesday removed a longtime archdiocesan exorcist, saying his recent comments about UFOs being demons "gravely undermine" church teachings.
Monsignor Stephen Rossetti is a priest and psychologist who has held prominent positions in the Archdiocese of Washington for decades. From 1993 to 2009, he treated clergy with mental health issues including priests accused of sexually abusing adults and children as head of the now-defunct St. Luke Institute in Silver Spring."
" He is listed as a Catholic University professor and has served as chaplain for the Washington Nationals."
" Rossetti now leads the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, which offers prayers and social media posts geared toward more charismatic Catholics who frame struggle and wrongdoing as a spiritual war between evil and good.
The center offers information about exorcisms, which are considered sacramental rites, according to material that had been posted on the archdiocesan website. The material, which referred Catholics to the center, appeared to have been removed Wednesday evening.
Citing Catholic teaching, the website defined exorcisms as when "the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion."



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FTACo88-FDT24dad
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AG
UTExan said:

Reason? He called UFOs being demons "gravely undermining" church teachings.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/06/04/washington-archdiocese-removes-monsignor-stephen-rossetti-over-ufo-comments/

" The archbishop of Washington, D.C., on Wednesday removed a longtime archdiocesan exorcist, saying his recent comments about UFOs being demons "gravely undermine" church teachings.
Monsignor Stephen Rossetti is a priest and psychologist who has held prominent positions in the Archdiocese of Washington for decades. From 1993 to 2009, he treated clergy with mental health issues including priests accused of sexually abusing adults and children as head of the now-defunct St. Luke Institute in Silver Spring."
" He is listed as a Catholic University professor and has served as chaplain for the Washington Nationals."
" Rossetti now leads the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, which offers prayers and social media posts geared toward more charismatic Catholics who frame struggle and wrongdoing as a spiritual war between evil and good.
The center offers information about exorcisms, which are considered sacramental rites, according to material that had been posted on the archdiocesan website. The material, which referred Catholics to the center, appeared to have been removed Wednesday evening.
Citing Catholic teaching, the website defined exorcisms as when "the Church asks publicly and authoritatively in the name of Jesus Christ that a person or object be protected against the power of the Evil One and withdrawn from his dominion."




Thanks for posting. No way I am paying the Washington Post for access. Will have to try and find more elsewhere. Interesting topic.
747Ag
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AG
I agree with Msgr. Rossetti

BonfireNerd04
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So, will the people who used his services get repossessed?
747Ag
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AG
He's being repossessed by his diocese.
PabloSerna
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AG
"It's my personal belief that probably many if not most of these UFO sightings are in fact demons," Monsignor Stephen Rossetti said in the May 29

+++

Yeah, that does not square with the teaching:

"328 The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls "angels" is a truth of faith."

And further on…

"With their whole beings the angels are servants and messengers of God. Because they "always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven"

I can see so called alien abductions being attributed to the will of God, not to mention some supernatural dimension factoring into the question of extraterrestrial life. What did that poster in Mulder's office say, "I want to believe"? Slippery slope there Monsignor. I wonder if he was given a chance to recant and said no?
TeddyAg0422
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AG
I'm a little confused how those excerpts you provided are related to the demon claim. But am trying to understand further. Could you please explain a little more when you get the chance
PabloSerna
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AG
I had the same thought. Let me clarify.

One, demons are fallen angels. They are still pure spirits and do not have a corporeal body.

Two, they have free will. We know that they choose against God's salvific plan for man. "Non servium"- I will not serve is their moto.

From what I have read, all possessions are the will of God for the salvation of man. So any physical manifestation would be an act of God. That is where I think the Monsignor is off a bit.
747Ag
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AG
Regarding God's will... Positive will or permissive will?
PabloSerna
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Permissive it would seem to me.
EFR
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Demons have a motto?
PabloSerna
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AG
Satanist do. They take it from what it is believed Lucifer said to God when the plan of the salvation of man was revealed. Maybe motto is not the right word. I wanted to relate that they have a free will like we do. They have an intellect superior to man. However, they have no corporeal body like man.
FTACo88-FDT24dad
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AG
PabloSerna said:

I had the same thought. Let me clarify.

One, demons are fallen angels. They are still pure spirits and do not have a corporeal body.

Two, they have free will. We know that they choose against God's salvific plan for man. "Non servium"- I will not serve is their moto.

From what I have read, all possessions are the will of God for the salvation of man. So any physical manifestation would be an act of God. That is where I think the Monsignor is off a bit.

They had free will when they made their choice. The will of a fallen angel is permanently set. Unlike human beings, who can repent and change course throughout their earthly lives, angels made their choice in a single, total, irrevocable act.
Thaddeus73
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Fr. Rosetti was doing the Lord's work through his exorcism ministry. McElroy is doing satan's work by removing him. Expressing a personal opinion about UFOs/Aliens/demons is not against Catholic teaching. McElroy should be removed by Pope Leo immediately...
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