WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cardinal Robert McElroy serves as the Catholic archbishop of Washington, D.C. He removed a priest from his position as an exorcist for the archdiocese on Wednesday. The removal followed public comments made by Monsignor Stephen Rossetti suggesting that unidentified flying object sightings were caused by demons.
Cardinal McElroy announced that the archdiocese was severing ties with the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., headed by him. Cardinal McElroy stated, "Rossetti’s statements 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 and exorcism."
Rossetti posted a video on Facebook on May 29 where he discussed unidentified flying object sightings and the existence of aliens. "It’s my personal belief that probably many if not most of these UFO sightings are in fact demons," he said. He added that demons can get into your head and manipulate things in the world to influence us to do evil. He stated that individuals can practice Catholicism while believing in extraterrestrial life, though he personally does not believe such life exists.
He later posted a statement on the St. Michael Center website, indicating he was saddened by the archdiocese's 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 said. He noted that he believes it is of the utmost importance to be obedient to the Church and he will continue to endeavor to subject all that he does and the center to be thus obedient.
He maintains a social media following of more than 148,000 on Instagram and works as a psychologist. The St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal specializes in providing spiritual counseling to priests experiencing personal difficulties. In 2023, he stated that public interest in information regarding demonic possession and exorcism had increased.