Washington Archbishop Removes Priest As Exorcist After Ufo Comments

The Catholic Archbishop of Washington, D.C., Cardinal Robert McElroy, has removed a salient leader from his domiciled arsenic an exorcist.

Monsignor Stephen Rossetti was dismissed aft publically suggesting that UFO sightings were nan activity of demons. The archdiocese besides confirmed it was severing ties pinch nan St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, a Washington-based non-profit led by Monsignor Rossetti.

The archbishop said Rossetti's statements "linking UFOs to demonic beingness and nan Center's caller usage of societal media gravely undermine nan Church's very precise school connected nan devil, demons and exorcism."

"There's a threat here," Rossetti said successful a May 29 video posted connected his Facebook page addressing UFO sightings and nan beingness of aliens. "As an exorcist I wanted to raise that danger. And that is that demons for illustration to hide. ... They don't want america to cognize what they're doing because they're much effective erstwhile we don't recognize it."

"They tin benignant of get into your head, you know, and manipulate things successful nan world to power america to do evil."

"It's my individual belief that astir apt galore if not astir of these UFO sightings are successful truth demons," Rossetti added.

Rossetti besides said that group tin beryllium bully Catholics and judge there's life connected different planets, though he does not personally judge life exists elsewhere.

In a connection posted connected nan St. Michael Center website, Rossetti said he was saddened by nan action of nan archdiocese.

"I inquire forgiveness for immoderate ways that I person not been religious to nan teachings of nan Church's Magisterium, peculiarly successful nan cited video connected 'aliens and nan demonic,'" he said. "I judge it is of nan utmost value to beryllium pious to nan Church and I will proceed to endeavor to taxable each that I do and nan Center to beryllium frankincense obedient."

Rossetti, who has complete 148,000 followers connected Instagram, is simply a salient scientist arsenic good arsenic an exorcist. His halfway has specialized successful offering belief treatment for priests troubled by various difficulties.

In 2023, he told The Associated Press location was expanding and renewed appetite for accusation astir demonic possession and exorcism.