Father Ripperger to fast from public speaking, interviews for 1 year at request of Denver archbishop

The Archdiocese of Denver announced Oct. 19 that Father Chad Ripperger, an exorcist whose homilies and talks have long been widely shared online, will undertake a one-year fast from public speaking and interviews at the request of Archbishop James Golka. 

Archbishop Golka, who is also a trained exorcist, recently met with Father Ripperger “to discuss his ministry and his community, the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother,” the archdiocese said in the statement.

During their meeting, Archbishop Golka asked Father Ripperger “to consider a one-year fast from public speaking and interviews,” the statement continued. “The time will allow him to devote himself to the Society and to the people it serves. Fr. Ripperger readily agreed.”

The statement contrasts with the framing of the situation reported on by LifeSiteNews’ Sign of the Cross, which wrote that Father Ripperger had been “silenced” by his archbishop.

The outlet states that Father Ripperger was scheduled to speak at LifeSiteNews’ 30th anniversary gala in April 2027 and that the exorcist notified LifeSiteNews that he cannot follow through with speaking at it. 

“The Archbishop has asked me to take a break on public speaking,” Father Ripperger wrote to LifeSiteNews, according to Sign of the Cross. 

The outlet reports that Father Ripperger declined a request to do a video address or share a written message and added that questions on the fast should be directed to the archdiocese. 

The archdiocese said in its statement that Father Ripperger and Archbishop Golka will review the arrangement once the year is over. 

“Archbishop Golka is grateful for Fr. Ripperger’s priestly service, exorcism ministry, and for the generous spirit in which he received this request,” the archdiocese concluded. “We ask the faithful to join us in praying for Fr. Ripperger and for the Society.”

In his homilies and talks, many of which have been posted by the YouTube channel Sensus Fidelium, Father Ripperger has shared about the spiritual life, virtue, faith, and his experience as an exorcist. Two months ago, he was a guest on the Shawn Ryan Show, which has more than six million subscribers. The nearly three-hour interview currently has 2.8 million views. In April, Father Ripperger was a guest on the Tucker Carlson podcast in an interview that now has 3.1 million views.