Full Breakdown
Removal of Monsignor Stephen Rossetti as Archdiocesan Exorcist
6/4/2026, 3:55:06 AM
Background: Church Teaching on Demons
The archdiocese said Rossetti’s public claim that many UFO sightings are demonic “gravely undermines” the Church’s very precise teaching on the devil, demons and exorcism. The archbishop warned that linking UFOs to demonic presence distorts doctrine.
Key Figures
Cardinal Robert McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., oversees the archdiocese’s clergy. Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, a psychologist and exorcist, leads the St. Michael Center, a nonprofit that provides spiritual counseling and healing for priests experiencing various difficulties. The center has attracted more than 148,000 Instagram followers.
Data & Reach
Rossetti has over 148,000 Instagram followers, and he has used the platform to discuss demonic phenomena. In a 2023 interview with the Associated Press he noted a growing public interest in demonic possession and exorcism.
Official Statements & Responses
McElroy said Rossetti’s UFO-demon link and recent social-media activity “gravely undermine” Church teaching. Rossetti posted an apology on the Center’s website, asking forgiveness for any failure to remain faithful to the Magisterium, especially regarding his video on “aliens and the demonic.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The sources provide only the archdiocese’s and Rossetti’s accounts; no independent verification of the alleged doctrinal breach has been reported.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There’s a danger here,” — Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, video statement, 29 May 2024
- “As an exorcist I wanted to raise that danger. And that is that demons like to hide. ... They don’t want us to know what they’re doing because they’re more effective when we don’t realize it.” — Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, video statement, 29 May 2024
- “It’s my personal belief that probably many if not most of these UFO sightings are in fact demons,” — Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, video statement, 29 May 2024
- “linking UFOs to demonic presence and the Center’s recent use of social media gravely undermine the Church’s very precise teaching on the devil, demons andexorcism.” — Cardinal Robert McElroy, archdiocesan announcement
Timeline of Key Developments
- May 29 2024 – Rossetti posted a video on Facebook warning that demons hide behind UFO sightings and could manipulate people.
- Wednesday – Archbishop McElroy announced the removal of Rossetti as the archdiocese’s official exorcist and the termination of the archdiocese’s relationship with the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal.
