Chad Ripperger


Chad Alec Ripperger is an American Catholic priest, theologian, and exorcist. He also founded the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother, a traditionalist Catholic association in the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado, United States, known as the Doloran Fathers. Ripperger is noted for his public commentary on metaphysics, the Mass, spiritual warfare, mental health, and prayer, particularly in relation to his work on deliverance ministry. His views have drawn both supporters and critics, with some commentators expressing concern about traditionalist values and the controversial nature of certain claims he has made.

Early life and education

Ripperger was born in Casper, Wyoming. He earned two bachelor's degrees, in theology and philosophy, from the University of San Francisco; and two master's degrees, one in philosophy from the Center for Thomistic Studies of the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, and another in theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. He joined the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, which sent him to Rome to receive his doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.

Priesthood

He was ordained a Catholic priest on June 7, 1997, by Edward Slattery for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter. His assignments after ordination included the diocesan St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Nebraska of the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska. He also taught liturgy at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Nebraska, and served as a pastor in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
In the early 2010s, Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa asked Ripperger to consider training exorcists for the diocese; from that, an idea developed to begin a society of exorcists. Ripperger moved into a motherhouse in 2014 and then a celebration for the formal establishment of the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother was held in March 2015.

Views and teachings

Ripperger has drawn both support and criticism for his public statements, views, and teachings, which reflect a strongly traditionalist Catholic perspective that differs from more progressive or mainstream theological approaches.

Possession and demons

In a 2015 interview during his time in the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother as a member of SMD, Ripperger stated that Hollywood portrayals of possession are "exaggerated and tend toward the sensational" and that actual possession cases were extraordinarily rare; "in some 150 interviews the SMD conducted last year, only three were found to be cases of demonic possession". On the nature of demonic possession itself, Ripperger argued the following:

is exceedingly rare, but it does exist. And when it does exist, you witness things that are outside of human capacity. Possessed people will speak languages they have never learned. You may see levitation, which is rare. The possessed may change shape or have cult knowledge that is beyond our capacity. We are not talking about something that is purely natural. However, when you start talking about certain types of diabolical influences, you have to reassure the faithful that it is rare.
In 2022, Catholic speaker and author Chris Stefanick interview Ripperger, during which Ripperger stated that demons are "on a short leash" and "can only do what Christ permits."
In 2024, Ripperger spoke at an event at Colorado State University, where he stated that "only 0.5% of the population is possessed" and described demonic influence as occurring through "diabolic oppression, obsession and possession". He said that, in cases of possession, God "permits" it to occur and allows individuals to suffer in order to grow in virtue and holiness. Rippergar also argued that behaviors such as "premarital sex, watching pornography, consuming drugs or alcohol and even playing video games" make individuals more susceptible to demonic influence.

Harry Potter and Magic

In 2019, Ripperger advised Catholics to avoid the Harry Potter series, claiming that author J.K. Rowling "went to witch school before she wrote the books" and that some of the spells in the novels are "real spells" because they appear in Latin, adding that "witches tell us they’re real spells". He also asserted that a woman in Spain had burned down her house while attempting one of the spells. Trent Horn, an American Catholic apologist, questioned these assertions, stating that he was "having a really hard time buying the evidence Father Ripperger is putting forward here," noting in particular that there is no evidence Rowling attended a witch school. A commentor expressed support for Ripperger's concerns, noting that Gabrielle Amorth, the former chief exorcist of Rome, similarly argued that "behind Harry Potter hides the signature of the king of darkness, the devil" due to what he viewed as positive depictions of magic, which he described as “the Satanic art." Moreover, Biblical passages have warned against sorcery, describing practitioners of magic as an "abomination in the eyes of God."

Women working outside the home

In 2019, Ripperger stated that "it is a mortal sin for a woman to work outside the home without a sufficient reason," citing the Manuale Theologiae Moralis and arguing that seeking a career or pursuing a higher standard of living "which they don’t really need" could become a grave manner and undermine a child's moral and psychological formation. One commentor has disrupted this interpretation, noting that the Catholic Church does not teach that women working outside the home commit a mortal sin, that numerous canonized women pursued vocations or professions beyond domestic life, and that employment in itself does not preclude the proper raising of children.

Stop the Steal Prayer

In January 2021, Ripperger received criticism after a report circulated that he had shared a “Prayer of Command” urging Jesus to "banish evil spirits" in an effort to "Stop the Steal," prompting concerns about reactionary political rhetoric and the influence of nationalistic currents within some Catholic communities, heightened due to January 6th. One commentor argued that "Catholics have embraced a dangerous amalgamation of an incomplete faith and a radical partisanship". Michael Hichborn of Crisis Magazine later published a statement from Ripperger in which he clarified that he had composed a deliverance prayer, but the group "modified it" and that he "never said to say it to stop the steal", adding that he had not issued any such “memo.” Ripperger stated that he had only encouraged people "to say a prayer for the integrity of the election."

Bipolar disorder

Mike Lewis of Where Peter Is reported that Ripperger stated that "bipolar is actually a form of obsession, demonic obsession by the time it gets to the point where it’s diagnosable". Lewis characterized this as implying that bipolar disorder is caused by demonic activity, as well as Ripperger discouraging "individuals from seeking appropriate medical treatment". In response, Michael Hichborn, writing in Crisis Magazine, argued that this was a misrepresentation, contending that Lewis had omitted qualifying remarks in which Rippergar stated that some mental illnesses are actually psychological rather than demonic. According to Hichborn's account, Ripperger explained that "if it’s psychological, it will either be physiologically based or it will be triggered by certain objects or events," whereas "if its demonic, it will have no correspondence to anything whatsoever".

Evolution and aliens

In contrast with the positions articulated by Pope Pius XII in Humani Generis, Pope John Paul II to Pontifical Academy of Sciences, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis—each of whom affirmed that evolutionary theory is compatible with Catholic teaching and may point to a divine creator—Ripperger rejects biological evolution. He has stated: "I have never had any conviction in relationship to evolution as a viable thing from the very beginning, from the first time I heard it in — I think it was in either 8th or 9th grade when I heard the proposition. I’m just like, that’s just absurd." A commentor responding to his position argued that such certainty "is not an argument" but rather "a manifestation of religious fundamentalism," reflecting a "lack of maturity and humility." Ripperger has also contended that evolution is metaphysically improbable, asserting that "one species does not have the existence of the essence in itself... to confer it to another species," and thus "cannot be the cause of another species/essence."
In 2025, Ripperger held "Restore Truth Conference" in Wisconsin with Hugh Owen, Robert Sungenis, and Ademar Rakowsky, with the alleged goal of "lead Catholics from diabolical deception to restoration of truth," as the conference placed aim at "Darwinian evolution and alien deception," according to Eric Sammons of Crisis Magazine.
In a February 2025 appearance on the Avoiding Babylon podcast, Ripperger stated that he believes alleged extraterrestrial beings—specifically so-called "grey aliens," referencing Gary Bates's book Alien Intrusion: UFOs and the Evolution Connection—are in fact demons masquerading as aliens in order to lead people into "rabbit-holes." He further argues:

Publications

  • Ripperger, Chad. The Metaphysics of Evolution. Books on Demand, 2012.
  • Ripperger, Chad. Introduction to the Science of Mental Health. Sensus Traditionis Press, 2013.
  • Ripperger, Chad. Topics on Tradition. Sensus Traditionis Press, 2013.
  • Ripperger, Chad. Magisterial Authority. Sensus Traditionis Press, 2014.
  • Ripperger, Chad. Deliverance Prayers for Use by the Laity. CreateSpace, 2016.
  • Ripperger, Chad. Dominion: The Nature of Diabolic Warfare. 2022.
  • Ripperger, Chad. The Apostolic Pardon: The Plenary Indulgence at the Time of Death. 2025.