Shocking twist after America's top exorcist claims UFOs are actually demons
One of America's most prominent Catholic exorcists has been stripped of his official role after claiming that many UFO sightings may actually be manifestations of demonic forces. Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, a priest, psychologist and longtime exorcist for the Archdiocese of Washington, sparked controversy with a video warning Christians about what he believes is a hidden spiritual danger behind the UFO phenomenon. In the video posted Friday to the YouTube page of his St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, Rossetti suggested that many unexplained aerial sightings are not extraterrestrial visitors but demons attempting to deceive humanity. Citing Ephesians 6:12, which describes humanity's struggle against spiritual forces of evil, Rossetti urged Christians to remain vigilant and to 'put on the armor of God.'Drawing on his experiences as an exorcist, he said demons and spirits can sometimes manifest as unusual entities, including 'beast-like creatures,' mysterious glowing orbs and so-called 'shadow men.''There's no question in my mind, personally, again, this is not de fide, but it's my personal belief that probably many, if not most, of these UFO sightings are, in fact, demons, and they can do things that we can't do, such [as] the speed and all sorts of things that human beings can't do,' Rossetti said.'The reason why it's important is that they will try to manipulate us.'The remarks triggered a swift response from church leaders, with Cardinal Robert McElroy subsequently removing Rossetti from his position as exorcist for the Washington archdiocese. The archdiocese also severed ties with Rossetti's St Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal. Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, a priest, psychologist and longtime exorcist for the Archdiocese of Washington, sparked controversy with a video warning Christians about what he believes is a hidden spiritual danger behind the UFO phenomenonRead More I'm a pastor who attended a secret UFO disclosure meeting. We saw images of 'translucent beings' that chilled me to the bone... the files could fulfil a dark biblical prophecy Rossetti served as the exorcist for the Archdiocese of Washington for 19 years and has built a large following through his public ministry, including more than 148,000 followers on Instagram. A licensed psychologist and author of several books on exorcism and spiritual warfare, he is widely regarded as one of the most prominent Catholic exorcists in the United States.Rossetti made the comments in a video posted to tRossetti made the comments in a video posted to the YouTube and Facebook channels of the St Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, where he discussed the possibility that UFO encounters have a supernatural rather than extraterrestrial explanation.The video centered on Rossetti's belief that many UFO sightings may not involve visitors from another world at all, but rather deceptive manifestations of demonic forces. It was this claim, more than any other, that triggered the controversy now surrounding the priest. He recounted the story of a woman who believed she was communicating with her deceased grandmother through occult 'automatic writing' before concluding she had been deceived by evil spirits.'There's a danger here ... as an exorcist, I wanted to raise that danger: and that is that demons like to hide, they don't want us to know they're around,' Rossetti said in the video that has since been removed. A video released in the first wave of UFO files appeared to show a glowing object resembling an 'eight-pointed star' with uneven arms moving across the sky'They don't want us to know what they're doing because they're more effective when we don't realize it. And they can kind of get into your head ... and manipulate things in the world to influence us to do evil.'The Archdiocese of Washington publicly rejected Rossetti's comments, saying his 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.'Following the decision, Rossetti issued a statement expressing disappointment over the archdiocese's actions.'I am saddened by the decision of the Archdiocese of Washington to cut its affiliation with St Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal (SMC),' he wrote. '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."'Rossetti did not retract his belief that some UFO sightings may have a demonic origin, but emphasized his commitment to remaining obedient to Church authority. Despite the setback, Rossetti said the St Michael Center would continue operating independently and serving people seeking spiritual guidance and deliverance ministry.'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. Also, I will continue to encourage all to do so as well,' he wrote. Congress recently requested 46 UFO videos from the Department of War, and eight of them were leaked to an investigative journalist'As I often say: 'Stay in the Boat!', that is, stay in the barque of Peter, it will lead you safely home.'The controversy sparked fierce debate online. One supporter wrote, 'The Saints were hated and persecuted. Thank you for speaking out and being courageous. My daily prayers are with you.'Other supporters praised Rossetti for discussing what they believe is a neglected spiritual aspect of the UFO phenomenon, while critics accused him of promoting speculation not supported by official Church teaching.Rossetti's views are controversial but not unique. Vice President J D Vance remarked during a podcast appearance in March, 'I don't think they're aliens, I think they're demons.'The idea has also surfaced among academics and former government officials involved in UFO investigations. A 2022 paper titled Ultraterrestrial Models by parapsychologist Hal Puthoff explored supernatural explanations as one possible interpretation of UFO encounters.Earlier this year, Diana Pasulka, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, said some government and military officials who study unidentified aerial phenomena interpret certain cases through a religious lens.'There is, incidentally, a high percentage of devout Catholics in the military who study this,' she said.'They believe there are probably a variety of phenomena. Some they would categorize as being caused by angels and demons.'Luis Elizondo, who was involved in the Pentagon's Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, has also claimed that a senior official once warned him against investigating UFOs because they were believed to have a Satanic connection.Father Carlos Martins, another Catholic exorcist, previously told DailyMail.com that he believes the UFO phenomenon could be part of a broader effort to undermine belief in scripture.'If the devil brings it about, they can put it into the human imagination that there is extraterrestrial life, that there are civilizations out there, then he can cause doubt in the Scriptures,' Martins said.'What he's done then is set up a competing account to the Christian scriptures, something the Judeo-Christian scriptures cannot account for, and so there's an indirect repudiation of the truth of revelation. He's accomplished that.'
