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Denver Archbishop Asks Exorcist Priest to Take One-Year Media Fast

7:21 AM ETConfirmed

Faith Desk

In Short: Denver Archbishop James Golka has asked prominent Catholic exorcist Father Chad Ripperger to take a one-year break from public speaking and interviews.

Denver Archbishop James Golka has requested that Father Chad Ripperger, a prominent Catholic exorcist, take a one-year break from public speaking and interviews.

The decision came after a meeting between Ripperger and Golka, where the archbishop suggested the break.

Ripperger agreed to the 'one-year fast' and will use this time to focus on the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother, the semi-contemplative religious community he founded.

The archdiocese stated that they plan to revisit the arrangement at the end of the year.

This move follows a similar action taken against Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, who was removed from his position as exorcist for the Washington, D.C., Archdiocese after a viral video.

Ripperger's recent interview on the Shawn Ryan Show, which garnered about 2.8 million views, included controversial statements about aliens being 'just demons.'

The archdiocese declined to provide more details about what led to the archbishop's request, and attempts to reach Ripperger were unsuccessful.

Professor Massimo Faggioli of Villanova University noted that dealing with exorcists with large online followings is a delicate matter for bishops and church leaders.

Faggioli added that popular culture has reduced exorcism to a movie and fiction genre, rather than recognizing it as a pastoral act of the Church.

The archdiocese expressed gratitude for Ripperger's 'priestly service, exorcism ministry, and for the generous spirit in which he received this request.'

Background

What's confirmed

• A prominent Catholic exorcist in Denver is pausing public speaking and interviews at the request of his archbishop.
• Golka blesses members of the congregations during the recessional procession at the end of the Mass of Installation for Golka as the sixth Archbishop of Denver, March 25, 2026, at the CoBank Arena at the National Western Center in Denver.
• Instead, the Rev. Chad Ripperger will use his “one-year fast” to devote himself to the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother, the semi-contemplative religious community he founded and the people it serves, the archdiocese announced in a Monday statement.
• The Catholic Church faces challenges with exorcists who have large online followings, as their influence can be theologically complex.
• Chad Ripperger agreed to take a “one-year fast” after a meeting with Denver Archbishop James Golka, who suggested the break.
• The move comes months after another exorcist, Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, was removed following a viral video.
• The decision arose from a meeting Ripperger had with Denver Archbishop James Golka, who asked the Catholic priest to consider taking the break.
• They plan to revisit the arrangement at the end of the year.
• Ripperger's yearlong fast comes about four months after Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, another Catholic exorcist who gained notoriety on social media, was removed by Cardinal Robert McElroy after serving as the exorcist for the Washington, D.C., Archdiocese for 19 years.
• The protocol said that if a parishioner was still suffering from demonic influence after “prudent spiritual care,” priests should contact the Vicar General’s Office to launch an evaluation of whether an exorcism is warranted.
• Efforts to reach Ripperger through the archdiocese were not immediately successful, and the archdiocese declined to provide more details, including what led to the archbishop's request.
• “There is no canon law that is clear on this,” he said.

What's still developing

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• Mostly clear early followed by cloudy skies overnight.

Sources

• Bozeman Daily Chroniclelink
• Clinton Heraldlink
• Kokomo Tribunelink
• Ottumwa Courierlink
• The Grand Junction Daily Sentinellink
• WarpBeat — background on Denver Archbishop Asks Exorcist to Step Back from Public Speaking link
• WarpBeat — background on Denver Archbishop Asks Priest to Step Back from Public Speaking link