Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, has offered a different explanation from the one given by his archdiocese just a few weeks ago regarding the removal of Monsignor Stephen Rossetti as exorcist. While the official statement released in June linked the decision to the priest’s remarks on UFO phenomena and his activity on social media, the cardinal now maintains that the reason was another: preserving the discreet nature proper to the ministry of exorcism.
The remarks were made during an interview granted on June 29 to Catholic News Service, published on July 8. In it, McElroy stated that his decision “had nothing to do with the issue of UFOs,” but rather with his conviction that the ministry of the exorcist “is traditionally a very private mission” within the life of the Church.
A different explanation from the one offered in June
Last June, the Archdiocese of Washington announced that Rossetti was stepping down as exorcist of the archdiocese. That statement asserted that the cardinal had considered the priest’s remarks linking UFOs with demonic activity, together with the recent social-media activity of the center he directs, to “seriously undermine” the Church’s teaching on the devil, demons, and the ministry of exorcism.
Now, however, McElroy maintains that this issue was not decisive. “My main objection is that I believe the traditional role of the exorcist is very private. It is a sacred ministry,” he said during the interview.
The cardinal added that exorcists intervene only in “particularly serious cases” and maintained that their mission must be carried out with discretion, without extending beyond the pastoral accompaniment of the affected persons.
Rossetti’s statements on UFOs
The controversy arose after Monsignor Stephen Rossetti posted a video on YouTube reflecting on the growing interest in unidentified aerial phenomena, revived following the declassification of various documents by the U.S. Administration.
In that intervention, the priest made clear that he was expressing a personal opinion and stated that, in his view, many of the alleged sightings could correspond to manifestations of preternatural origin. He explained that demons can produce extraordinary phenomena that exceed human capabilities, which, in his opinion, would offer a possible explanation for some cases.
A few days later, the video was removed and the Archdiocese of Washington announced Rossetti’s removal as exorcist.
A usually discreet ministry
The practice of keeping the identity of exorcists confidential is part of the Church’s pastoral tradition in many places. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops itself recommends that the identity of the exorcist remain, as far as possible, reserved and known only to the bishop and a small number of priests, in order to prevent the ministry from being overwhelmed by indiscriminate inquiries.
Rossetti, a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse (New York), remains incardinated in that particular Church and continues in full communion with it.
McElroy’s new statements nevertheless introduce a significant change from the explanation initially offered by the Archdiocese of Washington, by placing the emphasis on the reserved nature of the exorcist’s ministry rather than on the controversial statements the priest made about UFO phenomena.