By 
Washington Archbishop Cardinal Robert McElroy on June 3 removed a prominent priest from his role as an archdiocesan exorcist after the priest made remarks linking UFOs to demonic activity.
Monsignor Stephen Rossetti was “removed … as an exorcist of the Archdiocese of Washington,” McElroy said in a statement posted to the archdioceseʼs website. Rossetti is a priest of the Diocese of Syracuse, New York, the statement noted.
In addition to Rossettiʼs removal, McElroy said the archdiocese had “ended all affiliation between the archdiocese and the Saint Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal located in Washington, D.C.”
Led by Rossetti, the St. Michael Center is a Catholic nonprofit that “conducts spiritual education workshops and trains clergy, religious, and laity,” according to its website.
Rossetti had on May 29 posted a video to YouTube in which the exorcist had expressed his personal belief that “many, if not most, [UFO] sightings are, in fact, demons.” Such entities, he said in the video, “can do things that we canʼt do, such [as] the speed and all sorts of things that human beings canʼt do.”
McElroy in his statement said Rossettiʼs remarks “gravely undermine the Church’s very precise teaching on the devil, demons and exorcism.” The cardinal also criticized the St. Michael Centerʼs “recent use of social media,” though the statement did not offer any specifics beyond that.
In a statement after the news broke, Rossetti said he was “saddened” by the archdioceseʼs 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.
“I believe it is of the utmost importance to be obedient to the Church and I will continue to endeavor to subject all that I do and the Center to be thus obedient,” he continued, adding: “Also, I will continue to encourage all to do so as well.”
“I am grateful for 19 years of ministering in the Archdiocese of Washington as its exorcist and I thank the Archdiocese for its support and blessing all these years,” the statement continued. “We will remember the Cardinal and all in [the archdiocese] in our prayers for its important ministry.”
The St. Michael Center “plans to continue its ministry elsewhere,” Rossetti said.
As of June 3, the video that apparently resulted in Rossettiʼs dismissal had been marked private on YouTube.
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McElroy in his statement said Rossettiʼs remarks “gravely undermine the Church’s very precise teaching on the devil, demons and exorcism.”
How, exactly?
This is rich coming from one of the most heterodox prelates.
Very interesting that the Cardinal would take this action against a priest for expressing his personal views but the cardinal remains silent when the former Catholic president and other current Catholic politicians legalize, authorize, and promote abortion. And if you fail to do as they say the same people will persecute, penalize, and send you to prison.
Very interesting…….
It’s McElroy who needs to be exorcized for the damage he’s done to the Church by using the Church as a political weapon.
Demonic
McElroy was probably confused thinking that the aliens being demonized here were illegals.
For us un-educated pertaining to this issue, what is the Church’s teaching? I would prefer the Cardinal’s answer.
Maybe he was upset after being told space aliens are gay.
Good one, lolz
Maybe the “smoking man” called him and said take care of this.
“…gravely undermine the Church’s very precise teaching on the devil, demons and exorcism.”
No specifics from the Cardinal? What precise teaching did Rossetti undermine? One would think the Cardinal might want to let everyone know. But then, he’s been a rather heterodox teacher himself has he not? His statements on abortion and homosexuality make him seem as if he apparently never read the Didache about abortion, nor heard of the traditional gravity of sodomy.
Even if the Monsignor’s comments were mistaken, overly broad, or imprudent, I find it troubling that nearly twenty years of fruitful ministry could be undone by a single incident. Anyone who reviews his biography would have to acknowledge that he is, by any objective measure, an accomplished priest with a remarkable record of service to the Church. Moreover, his bishop appears to have promoted, tolerated, or failed to address positions and practices that are themselves at odds with Church teaching. To be clear, I have no objection to bishops disciplining their clergy when circumstances warrant it. However, one cannot help but question whether such a severe response is justified in this case. It also often seems that ecclesial disciplinary measures are applied unevenly, with the strongest sanctions falling most frequently on clergy who are perceived as theologically orthodox/traditional/conservative, while others receive far less scrutiny for statements or actions that directly challenge and undermine official Church teaching.
Andrew, you answered your own question. They are creating a new religion while wearing the garbs of the old one, in the hope that no one will see it.
What was once considered heterodox is now orthodox.
Dear Andrew: “Even if the Monsignor’s comments were mistaken,”
An internationally-cited scientist, with many reputable publications (including 5 in ‘Nature, London’), previously editor of an international science journal, & supervisor of many successful & scientifically-productive PhD students, I’m secure in my observational & interpretive skills.
Demonic forces are able to manifest in many forms, as – for example – in individual persons, & in various types of automobiles (personally observed several times, in the cold hard light of day). They never offer themselves for experimental examination . . .
There’s no better explanation for genuine UFO events than that they represent one category of demonic deception.
In my humble view: Archbishop Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington has served the arch-deceiver prince of this world & his hordes of devilish fallen angels, by fraudulently persecuting Monsignor Stephen Rossetti.
Should we be so surprised? After all: “Does not like cling to like?”
Surely, there’ll come a day when Rossetti in Glory will be pleading with Judge Jesus Christ for McElroy’s soul, as the Holy Angels thrust it where no one wants to go!
As good Catholics let’s remember: “Truth & Justice will prevail eternally!”
Thank you for your insightful thoughts.
It would be nice to know exactly HOW said video contradicts church teaching?
Exactly. Wondering the same without having to scour the internet or dig into the catechism.
This detailed analysis raises an important question about pastoral governance and the nature of ecclesial obedience. While the Archbishop of Washington acted swiftly to prevent public confusion arising from a priest’s private opinions regarding UFOs, Msgr. Rossetti’s response offers a striking example of priestly humility. His immediate acceptance of the decision, his request for forgiveness, and his pledge to pray for the Cardinal who removed him from office reflect a profound sensus Ecclesiae.
At the same time, many faithful encounter a different reality at the local parish level, where practices that appear difficult to reconcile with the Church’s sacramental discipline are sometimes met with resistance when respectfully questioned. For example, some Catholics have experienced situations in which all present are encouraged to receive Holy Communion without adequate reference to the dispositions traditionally required by the Church.
It is reassuring to witness such a public display of humility and obedience from a priest. Yet the quiet, daily safeguarding of the Holy Eucharist in ordinary parish life deserves no less pastoral attention, vigilance, and zeal than controversies that arise in the public sphere.
Very good response Paolo.
Agreed!
Thank you, Father! Your words remind me that sometimes the greatest miracles are not the ones we see, but those that transform the heart from pride to humility. This is beautifully illustrated by a true story from the history of my country, involving Padre Pio and a fellow Capuchin friar, Fra Antonino Mischitelli.
Fra Antonino, born in San Giovanni Rotondo in 1875, had spent many years in difficult missions abroad, such as Constantinople and Crete. Having faced death for the faith, he thought he knew everything. When he returned home and heard of Padre Pio’s stigmata and miracles, he was skeptical and ironical. He went to the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie and asked Padre Pio for his blessing. Unexpectedly, Padre Pio looked at him and said there was no need, refusing to bless him. It was a severe blow to Fra Antonino’s pride.
Deeply troubled, the friar returned the next two days. Finally, on the third day, he knelt before Padre Pio and said: “Father, I am stubborn, and I have faced death for my faith, but this denied blessing hurts more than anything. Now, bless me.” Padre Pio looked at him with affection and said in his local dialect: “Now you understand.” He blessed him and embraced him.
In that exact moment, everything changed. Fra Antonino did not lack faith; he lacked the humility to receive it. Padre Pio had not denied the blessing to punish him, but to teach him to truly desire it. This is the same supernatural humility we have witnessed in Msgr. Rossetti’s prompt obedience to his Bishop, a virtue that we must pray to see revived in all our pastors today.
As a lay, I also ask of you a great and deep blessing for my poor apostolate and prayer for the Mystical Body of Christ, as the continuation of the Eucharistic Body, whose Feast (Corpus Domini) will be celebrated in a few days.
Your kind words bring to mind a lesson that Padre Pio often taught: humility is sometimes a greater miracle than any extraordinary sign. What struck me most in Msgr. Rossetti’s response was precisely this supernatural humility—his immediate acceptance of the Archbishop’s decision, his request for forgiveness, and his promise of prayer.In an age often marked by self-assertion and public controversy, such obedience offers a powerful witness to the faithful. May the Lord grant all of us, clergy and laity alike, the grace to cultivate the same spirit, especially as we prepare to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. And please remember me in your prayers, Father, as I will remember you in mine.
If McElroy expels all exorcists from his archdiocese, imagine the demonic rejoicing. “El roi”…in Hebrew means “God sees.” God knows whose tree the arch bird is on.
It doesn’t seem that is his intention. So you should just display the same humility as the priest did.
Who are you to judge?
God sees and God knows is not God’s intention? Sorry, Fin, I don’t know what you are talking about. And how would you know my humility? How would you measure it against another man’s? Let me know the manufacturer of your yardstick so I can order one, OK?
And I would hope you would hope that McElroy would learn to display some humility towards the Catholic religion.
Hahhvahhhd men are not exactly known for humility.
McElroy’s sole saving grace is his proximity to superannuation.
This from the College of Cardinals Report website:
“McElroy is widely regarded as a supporter of Pope Francis’s progressive teaching. He has been a vocal advocate for addressing social inequality, the cause of the homeless, supporting comprehensive immigration reform, and emphasizing the Church’s social justice mission. He affirms the Catholic teaching that life begins at conception, but does not believe abortion should be the sole preeminent issue for Catholic voters, arguing that climate change is also a crucial moral concern.”
“McElroy is accused of delaying for a year the removal of a priest abuser from the diocese of San Diego who had admitted to what his victim had called “satanic ritual abuse.” McElroy is also accused of not properly investigating the case.”
This is weird. When has McElroy ever been concerned over undermining doctrine? Something doesn’t add up. McElroy is using this trivial UFO/demon issue to railroad Rossetti for real reasons unknown. I know of people who were helped enormously by the St Michael center. I hope the center can land on its feet elsewhere, and soon.
Cardinal McElroy did not cite where in the “Church’s very precise teaching on the devil, demons and exorcism” the topic of UFOs is addressed.
Google search terms: what does the Catholic Church teach about demons and UFOs
AI Overview begins (bold style omitted):
The Catholic Church teaches that demons are real, fallen angels who actively tempt and deceive humanity. However, it has no official teaching on UFOs or extraterrestrial life. The Church views the possibility of intelligent life in the universe with theological openness, leaving the interpretation of aerial phenomena to science and individual discernment
One could get the impression that a decision was already made to sever the relationship and that Diocese was looking for an excuse. He was given no chance to apologize or clarify his remarks, or change his use of social media. His remarks were not an act of heresy, a canonical crime, etc. No remedy was offered. He was just offering his personal opinion. If imprecise speaking or personal speculation is grounds for dismissal a lot of people in the episcopacy, Catholic academia, etc. are in trouble. I do applaud Father for his humble and accepting response.
Fr Rossetti’s response was a model of virtuous meekness. The bishop’s actions were at the very best, an over reaction to the video. The accusation by the bishop is vague. Was there no attempt at private correction?
Re: What can angels do?
Thomas Aquinas allows that angels (I assume both good and bad) can present themselves in sensible forms (ways that humans can perceive). The Catechism, paragraph 332 discusses persons in Scripture who discerned the presence of angels. The ‘serpent’ in Genesis was a demon, wasn’t he? How did Eve (and the writer of Genesis) perceive a serpent if demons are powerless to assume sensible forms?
This Vatican (CDF) document is from 1975, but I neither know its level of magisterial authority nor know what it says. I have no time to read it.
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19750626_fede-cristiana-demonologia_en.html
Skimming the CDF document led to this (within the section on Penance):
“It is true that in the course of the centuries the existence of Satan and of the devils has never in fact been the object of an explicit declaration of her Magisterium. The reason for this is that the question was never posed in these terms. Both heretics and the faithful, basing their respective positions on sacred Scripture, were in agreement in recognizing the existence of Satan and the devils and their main misdeeds. This is why, when the reality of the devil is called into question today, it is to the constant and universal belief of the Church and to its main source, the teaching of Christ, that one must appeal, as has been stated. It is in fact in the teaching of the Gospel and as something at the heart of the faith that the existence of the demonic world is shown to be a dogmatic datum.”
This is an interesting statement from a well-known Catholic center that has worked with Msgr. Rosetti for a number of years in the past.
https://sli.org/2026/06/statement-from-saint-luke-institute-on-monsignor-stephen-rossetti/
Not that interesting in the sense that they do not explain why they are disassociating themselves from Father other than implying their decision is in accord with the wishes of the Cardinal. Even if they feel obligated to comply, it is cowardly to not explain why in detail.
The Catholic Culture website has some articles about the Saint Luke Institute. One of them goes into their checkered history. It is titled “The unhappy leadership history of St. Luke’s Institute”
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https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/unhappy-leadership-history-st-lukes-institute/?repos=6&subrepos=0&searchid=2661128
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The article included coverage about then Father Stephen Rossetti. An interesting read.
This isn’t about doctrine. This is about McElroy’s abuse of power in getting rid of an orthodox priest. Like all bishops of his ilk he cannot tolerate orthodoxy and fidelity. The very existence and presence of Msgr. Rossetti and other orthodox and faithful well known priests and religious convicts themselves of their sin. I’d be willing to bet that McElroy has been waiting for an opportunity to get rid of Rossetti. And let’s not forget that Satan is overjoyed about this turn of events.
Spot on, dear Father.
How scandalous that our hierarchs readily repeat fake accusations against the innocent, just as faked accusations were made against our LORD.
With all due respect to His Eminence, I don’t understand how a personal belief that UFOs are demons — or swamp gas, interstellar visitors, Mork from Ork, chariots of the gods, pie plates on fishing line, or anything else — has anything to do with someone’s ministry. I suspect there may be more to the story than we know.
I am just an ordinary Catholic lay woman, but something sounds very phony and fishy about the Cardinal’s explanation. I suspect the good
exorcist did not support some of the Cardinal’s pet left wing causes – anti Trump, pacifist, LGBT, illegal migration, etc. ? The left is notoriously intolerant. Something more is going on here. Remember, among the Cardinal’s predecessors in D.C. were Donald Wuerl (who lied about McCarrick) and, of course, McCarrick himself.
Agreed. The “left” does not tolerate intolerance, bigotry and fascism very well, does it?
The left perfectly represents intolerance, bigotry, and racism. People who have been paying attention have seen that for a long time. You’re the pot calling the kettle black.
Amen!
The left IS intolerance, bigotry and fascism.
Latin Mass groups identified as FBI targets, Mark Houck arrested by paramilitary goons in front of his children, mandatory “pride month” celebrations..
And now, New York has a bill waiting for Kathy HawkTual’s signature removing the words “mother” and “father” from from the state codes.
“Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right.”
― George Orwell, 1984
“The family is inherently an obstacle to schemes for central control of social processes. Therefore the anointed necessarily find themselves repeatedly on a collision course with the family. It is not a matter of any subjective animus on their part against families. The anointed may in fact be willing to shower government largess upon families, as they do on other social entities. But the preservation of the family as an autonomous decision-making unit is incompatible with the third-party decision making that is at the heart of the vision of the anointed.”
― Thomas Sowell, The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy
A lot of words to confirm every accusation is an admission.
The Church takes the position that unexplainable phenomena should first be studied by science rather than speculation of spiritual causality. Which is why exorcisms are exercised only after psychiatric and other scientific findings remain unexplainable by science. As with apparitions, miracles.
Furthermore, if the Church were to initially seek spiritual causality it would appear foolhardy and unprofessional if an event were to be scientifically explained. Galileo Galilei set the gold standard.
The scientific theory of evolution has an explanation for man’s appearance on earth. It does not follow that that scientific explanation is true. Many do see the Church as foolhardy and unprofessional for including the book of Genesis in the Bible.
Dear Meiron, even where the biblical accounts clash with current scientific understanding, they still convey a clear divine ethic that science doesn’t. Catholicism gives meaning to creation; science can’t.
As regards cosmogenesis lasting 13.8 billion years and the very gradual, step-by-step 3.8 billion year complexification of life on Earth, science can postulate various physical processes but it cannot say where the stunning accumulation of information came from that enableed it all to make sense.
How many atheists realise the word ‘evolution’ means unrolling so as to gradually reveal what is written! If only they would listen when we tell them who The Writer is and that He’s revealed Himself in glorious human form.
Professor Fred Hoyle (who discovered how stars produce Carbon) reflected on this: “Even in a huge universe, over eons of time, there’s as much chance that these unfolding complexities happened by chance as if an enormous wind blew through a gigantic junk yard & eventually produced a jumbo jet!”
For that piece of genuine wisdom Hoyle was denied the Nobel Prize that his work on stella-chemosynthesis richly deserved. Clearly: prejudice & injustice is not limited to certain hubristic clerics!
True meiron. Although the policy of scientific investigation first does not, at least should not exclude the possibility of the demonic regarding UFOs.
In the instance of McElroy he acted abruptly without consideration that Msgr Rossetti was expressing an opinion.
Insofar Genesis that has priority as revelation, authorship traditionally attributed to Moses. Modern scholarship questions his authorship because of two versions and inconsistencies. Although we also have to take into account its ancient source and expected redaction throughout the millenniums. Therefore, we accept it primarily on faith rather than scientific speculation.
Oh. You reject evolution? Cool.
Who are you to judge?
Check out Fr. Rossetti’s background: He graduated from the US Air Force Academy. I’m willing to bet he knows more about flying objects than McElroy does.
We should remember one thing: it’s not unheard of that a bishop would make false statements.
Yes. Fr Morello is right. It’s concerning to see some Catholics link UFOs to Nephilim etc in the Old Testament. It starts to look like the Chariots of the Gods idiocy. This is the whole purpose of the UFO industry. The myth of aliens (or devils) giving humans technology, even genes, is one of the easiest to disprove. But many people in the West are so superstitious they won’t stop buying it.
As for all these UFO sightings, it’s a case of, rubbish in, rubbish out. The number or reports directly correlates to the amount of exposure of the population to fiction about aliens visiting earth. When the entertainment industry of a country consistently reports, for generations, that aliens have a predilection for visiting that particular country, the number of people who “see” them doing it increases exponentially, i.e. the United States. Countries within the cultural orbit of the United States are next in line for reported sightings: the UK, Canada, Australia etc. Of course, there is always the explanation that Martians know that the rest of the world is not worth annoying…
It is to the credit of the European film industry that it has never able to produce fiction about alien visits that is remotely credible, unlike the deluge of earnest stuff from Hollywood.
Dear Miguel Cervantes: (1) “The myth of aliens (or devils) giving humans technology, even genes, is one of the easiest to disprove. But many people in the West are so superstitious they won’t stop buying it.” (2) “As for all these UFO sightings, it’s a case of, rubbish in, rubbish out. The number or reports directly correlates to the amount of exposure of the population to fiction about aliens”.
(1) Even limited travel in Asia & Africa & South America would convince you that superstition is not especially high ‘in the West’. Please tell us how you propose to prove the impossibility of transference of information from the spiritual to the natural. That would be of great value to all us non-superstitious scientist/theologians.
(2) Please provide the data for your claimed ‘direct correlation’.
May I repeat a previous post:
‘An internationally-cited scientist, with many reputable publications (including 5 in ‘Nature, London’), previously editor of an international science journal, & supervisor of many successful & scientifically-productive PhD students, I’m secure in my observational & interpretive skills.
Demonic forces are able to manifest in many forms, as – for example – in individual persons, & in various types of automobiles (personally observed several times, in the cold hard light of day). They never offer themselves for experimental examination . . .’
There’s no better explanation for genuine UFO events than that they represent one category of such demonic deceptions.
You are correct, dear Miguel Cervantes, that commercial interests make billions of dollars from fictional productione elaborating on supernatural incidents, aliens, UFOs, etc. These fictional productions often have strong story lines & are very popular. That is beside the point.
It was an error to conflate that cultural reality with the very real interventions of evil entities. Such interventions are much exploited by the freemason/witchcraft mob.
That’s why in the ‘Our Father’ – given us by The LORD Jesus Christ – we pray that GOD will deliver us from the evil one.
In fact, demonic manifestations would be far more common (as they are in all pagan cultures) if it were not for The Precious Blood of Jesus and the faith of every true Catholic.
We live at a time when that great shield of Christian faith is falling into disuse – not at all surprising then that demonic mischief is multiplying apace.
Sadly, one has to say: “Worse seems to be coming.”
As a footnote on demonic manifestation, please read Matthew 4:1-11.
It doesn’t. This reeks of the kind of corporate intrigue orchestrated by the
Ivy Leaguers that slither through the Fortune 500 C-Suites. Oh wait, what do you know, he went to Hahhvahhd.
Obviously Rossetti, a USAFA grad, is more qualified to comment on flying objects than poly-scioned Ellie. Ellie is likely so astigmatic that he looks at aerial phenomena and sees himself in glory. Rossetti’s bio is impressive.
He knows how to fly planes. Doesn’t follow he can identify UAP.
It doesn’t.
The more I think about this, the more I think the vague and unexplained reasoning and the very public dissociation is abusive. Why wasn’t there a private discussion, and opportunity to apologize to the extraterrestrials, clarify and maybe attend sensitivity training?
Didn’t a Cardinal abuse his authority with St. Pio?
St. Pio was treated horribly.
My chat GPT says these three cardinals worked their weapon of Holy Office bureaucracy against Padre: Merry del Val; Sbarretti — Prefect of the Holy Office, who signed off on the most severe disciplinary measures; Ottaviani.
The Holy Office displayed: anti‑mystical bias, fear of mass devotion outside Vatican control, concern about the hospital project’s finances, internal Vatican politics, skepticism toward charismatic phenomena.
Padre Pio was a living contradiction to the bureaucratic mindset because he was
a humble friar with supernatural gifts, caused massive popular devotion, and had no interest in institutional power.
That made him dangerous.
“fear of mass devotion outside Vatican control”
Are you familiar with Pournelle?
Pournelle’s Iron Law of Bureaucracy states that in any bureaucratic organization there will be two kinds of people”:
First, there will be those who are devoted to the goals of the organization. Examples are dedicated classroom teachers in an educational bureaucracy, many of the engineers and launch technicians and scientists at NASA, even some agricultural scientists and advisors in the former Soviet Union collective farming administration.
Secondly, there will be those dedicated to the organization itself. Examples are many of the administrators in the education system, many professors of education, many teachers union officials, much of the NASA headquarters staff, etc.
The Iron Law states that in every case the second group will gain and keep control of the organization. It will write the rules, and control promotions within the organization.
Until your mention, I hadn’t heard of Pournelle. Research led me to learn of his adopting the notion of the ‘self licking ice cream cone.’ Some church officials would likely crave and drool about such a mission. Fait accompli.
Padre Pio talked about UFO’s also according to Dr Paul Thigpen, RIP.
In all fairness to the Cardinals, believing in mystical phenomena does not automatically clarify that the mystical phenomena is good.
They were operating off second- and third-hand information (probably acquired from lower-level bureaucrats), and there are definitely people (who may have fooled themselves first) in the Church claiming mystical visions and using them to lead people astray. There are also people employing charisma to do the same, and acquiring large numbers of followers.
Cardinal Merry del Val is best known for leading the opposition to Modernism at the time, and for popularizing the Litany of Humility. He also, at some point, began working to clear Padre Pio’s name and protect him from further adverse actions.
I don’t know anything about the other 2 Cardinals, but probably you should be careful what you believe from ChatGPT. It provides the popular answer, not the right one.
Thank you for your cautionary tale.
Final quote from the final paragraph of the Vatican document on demonology:
“It certainly remains true that the demonic reality attested to in the concrete by what we call the mystery of Evil, remains an enigma surrounding the Christian life. We scarcely know any better than the Apostles knew why the Lord permits it, nor how he makes it serve his designs. It could be however that, in our civilization obsessed with secularism that excludes the transcendent, the unexpected outbreaks of this mystery offer a meaning less alien to our understanding. They force man to look further and higher, beyond the immediate evidence. Through their menace which stops us short they enable us to grasp that there exists a beyond which has to be deciphered, and then to turn to Christ in order to hear from him the Good News of salvation graciously offered to us.”
Brilliant!
Here’s another Vatican document on rules for discerning supernatural phenomena (promulgated in 2024, under Fernandez as DDF prefect). It deals only with phenomena suspected to be of divine origin.
Catholic belief is that God created all angels, even those who chose to reject him, thus making of themselves demons. Since demons are spiritual creatures, their beings and activities are ‘supernatural’ are they not? The Church says, re discerning phenomena of questionable ‘divine’ supernatural nature, that certain procedures are to be followed by the bishop in whose diocese the phenomena are alleged to have occurred. Why would these norms apply to ‘divine’ but not to ‘demonic’ phenomena?
Art. 1 – It is the responsibility of the Diocesan Bishop, in dialogue with the national Episcopal Conference, to examine cases of alleged supernatural phenomena that occur within his territory and to formulate a final judgment on them, including the possible promotion of an associated veneration or devotion. The judgment of the Bishop is to be submitted to the Dicastery for approval.
Art. 2 – After having investigated the events in question according to the following norms, it is the responsibility of the Diocesan Bishop to transmit the results of the investigation, with his Votum, to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and to intervene according to the indications provided by the Dicastery. It is the responsibility of the Dicastery to evaluate the Diocesan Bishop’s way of proceeding and to approve or not approve the determination that the Bishop proposes to attribute to the specific case.
Art. 3 § 1 – The Diocesan Bishop is to refrain from making any public statement in favor of the authenticity or supernatural nature of such phenomena and from having any personal connection with them. Yet, he must remain vigilant and, if necessary, intervene with swiftness and prudence, according to the procedures indicated in the following norms.
Etc.
The English translation follows the Italian and French, so scroll down.
https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2024/05/17/0403/00842.html#en
Sorry but I’m afraid I haven’t a sliver of time for McElroy.
I for one would be interested in an exact citation of specific canon law numbers or particular paragraphs from the Catechism regarding this. This seems out of left field and made up doctrine the Church never expounded on. Seems like a cover for getting rid of him rather than about Church teaching. It is absolutely a possibility that some UFO phenomena are actually demonic activity. By their fruits you will know them and UFO / alien experiences align with evil rather than divine activity.
Perfect summary. Thank you, dear Tim Vail.
McElroy has held his cards close to the vest since his time at the Pink Palace in Menlo Park CA. None of the seminarians there had any clue what his theology was. This was in the late 80’s/early 90’s. Apparently that is still the case. Interesting.
Having a priest promulgate superstitious foolishness is a terrible look. No wonder he was removed.
Dear Fenian – if you read the learned comments above, you’ll find that The Church readily teaches – as with Jesus & His Apostles – that demonic manifestations occur; and are a serious part of our reality.
Only a hardened materialist could name that: “superstitious foolishness”!
Time to think more scripturally, dear brother. Blessings from marty
Do you know what superstition is?
“A superstition is a belief or practice that isn’t entirely based on facts or reality, like carrying a rabbit’s foot because you think it brings you good fortune, or believing that Friday the 13th is a day of bad luck.”
This is speculation or perhaps a hypothesis.
Fenian: What brand of Catholicism do you practice?
The brand of reason and intellect I would guess.
Another diocese needs to make Monsignor Rossetti an offer. They would be fortunate to have him. I doubt offers will be coming from Chicago, Detroit, Newark or Charlotte.
I met Msgr Rossetti many years ago and have followed his work ever since. Since he is a very orthodox priest, it’s not surprising to me that the likes of the Cardinal would not want to be associated with him and his good work in any way whatsoever. This is just more of the dictatorship of heresy that is currently running rampant in our Church.
Thanks, dear ‘SF’: “the dictatorship of heresy that is currently running rampant in our Church.”
As fiercely advocated by their ‘PR Officer’, Susanne. Very suss!
Of the three munera of the office of bishop, the most important one is that of Teaching. McElroy failed miserably when he made a very public administrative decision but failed to take the opportunity to teach the faithful in his diocese about:
1. Exorcisms
2. Demons
3. Aliens from Space
It fractures the Body of Christ when a bishop axes a very public figure and does not do what he is ordained to do – TEACH THE FAITH.
Of the three munera of the office of bishop, the most important one is that of Teaching. McElroy failed miserably when he made a very public administrative decision but failed to take the opportunity to teach the faithful in his diocese about:
1. Exorcisms
2. Demons
3. Aliens from Space
It fractures the Body of Christ when a bishop axes a very public figure and does not do what he is ordained to do – TEACH THE FAITH..
I’d welcome Msgr. SR to serve and minister in Arlington. May the Lord bless and him.
Apparently, Vice President Vance is of the opinion that UFO’s are demonic. The Government has not been honest with us about this. You have to wonder what is really going on?
Vance is hardly an authority on Catholicism or UAP.