Chad Alec Ripperger (born October 11, 1964) is an American Catholic priest, theologian, and exorcist. He 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 over the controversial nature of his theological and societal claims.
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 (FSSP), 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 Bishop 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 Slattery of the Diocese 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. These reflect a strongly traditionalist Catholic perspective that differs from more progressive or mainstream theological approaches, and, at times, even with mainstream theological tradition in the Catholic Church.
Possession and demons In a 2015 interview during his time in the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother as a member of SMD (Doloran Fathers), 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, Ripperger notes that while exceedingly rare, true cases involve manifestations outside human capacity, such as speaking unlearned languages or possessing hidden knowledge. He emphasizes the need to reassure the faithful that such diabolical influences are uncommon. In his 2022 theological treatise Dominion: The Nature of Diabolic Warfare, he systematically outlines the spiritual mechanics of demonic activity, positing that demons operate strictly within the bounds permitted by Divine Providence. In 2022, Catholic speaker and author Chris Stefanick interviewed Ripperger, during which he 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 argues that God permits demonic activity so that individuals can grow in virtue, but that behaviors such as engaging in premarital sex, watching pornography, or drug use make individuals more susceptible. Regarding the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ripperger frequently highlights her immense power over the demonic. He has recounted a theological discussion with a demon during an exorcism in which the demon corrected his understanding of Mary's life. When Ripperger suggested the Assumption was her moment of greatest glory, the demon clarified three distinct moments:
Deliverance ministry and the laity In his 2016 manual, Deliverance Prayers for Use by the Laity, Ripperger outlines prayers intended for spiritual combat by the laity. The book, which carries an imprimatur from the Archdiocese of Denver, draws a strict theological distinction between the spiritual authority of priests and laypeople. Ripperger distinguishes between "deprecatory" prayers, which petition God for intervention, and "binding" prayers, where an individual directly commands an evil spirit. He strongly cautions that laypeople must only use prayers of command within their direct natural or spiritual authority (such as a parent praying over a child or an individual over their own finances) to avoid retaliation from the demonic. Included in the manual are specific prayers designed for lay use, such as the "Prayer Against Oppression," in which the individual invokes the merits of Christ's wounds to claim authority over their life and possessions, commanding attached spirits to leave. It also contains deprecatory prayers requesting angelic protection over a household, such as the "Prayer for Protection Against Curses, Harm and Accidents":
Ripperger emphasizes throughout his writings and public talks that deliverance prayers are "not magic spells" and that their efficacy is secondary to living a rigorous sacramental life, receiving frequent Confession, and cultivating personal virtue.
Guardian angels In his teachings on guardian angels, Ripperger emphasizes their purely spiritual nature and their placement within a strict angelic hierarchy. He teaches that each guardian angel was created by God with a specific, singular purpose to watch over one individual person. In a lecture on the subject, Ripperger offered a personal reflection on the relationship between humans and their guardian angels:
He further advises that the degree of a guardian angel's involvement in a person's life is largely dependent on the individual's willingness to pray to them and foster a spiritual relationship.
Liturgy and tradition Ripperger writes extensively on the necessity of adhering to traditional Catholic practice and the Ancient Rite. In his writings, he argues that the widespread rejection of tradition following Vatican II is fundamentally an act of impiety, defining piety as the virtue of giving honor to one's superiors and forefathers:
He further critiques modern approaches to the Mass, asserting that worship should be objective rather than experiential:
Harry Potter and magic In 2019, Ripperger advised Catholics to avoid the Harry Potter series. Regarding author J.K. Rowling, he claimed:
He asserted that because the spells appear in Latin, they pose a danger, claiming that a woman in Spain had burned down her house while attempting one. The claim sparked debate among Catholic commentators regarding the line between harmless fiction and the occult, with apologists like Trent Horn questioning the factual basis of his claims regarding Rowling, while others noted that former chief exorcist of Rome Gabriele Amorth held similar views regarding the spiritual dangers of depicting magic positively.
Women working outside the home In 2019, citing the Manuale Theologiae Moralis, Ripperger stated:
Reflecting traditionalist Catholic teachings on the family, he argued that unnecessarily seeking a career or pursuing a higher standard of living when not financially required could become grave matter if it undermines a child's moral and psychological formation.
Stop the Steal controversy In January 2021, a report circulated that Ripperger had shared a "Prayer of Command" urging Jesus to "banish evil spirits" in an effort to "Stop the Steal." Ripperger later clarified that while he had composed a deliverance prayer, the political group "modified it" and that he "never said to say it to stop the steal." He stated that he had only encouraged people "to say a prayer for the integrity of the election."
Mental health and bipolar disorder Ripperger explores the intersection of spiritual and psychological ailments extensively in his 2013 book, Introduction to the Science of Mental Health, where he utilizes traditional Thomistic psychology and Catholic anthropology to evaluate modern psychological practices. However, his specific views on mental illness have prompted debate over his boundary definitions between psychology and the demonic. He stated:
This comment drew criticism for potentially discouraging individuals from seeking medical treatment. Supporters noted that Ripperger qualifies this by explaining that if a condition is psychological, it will "be physiologically based or it will be triggered by certain objects or events," whereas demonic influence "will have no correspondence to anything whatsoever".
Biological evolution In contrast with the positions articulated by Pope Pius XII in Humani Generis (1950) and successive popes—who affirmed that evolutionary theory is compatible with Catholic teaching and may point to a divine creator—Ripperger rejects biological evolution. In his 2012 academic text, The Metaphysics of Evolution, Ripperger approaches the topic through a strictly Thomistic philosophical framework. He considers evolutionary development "absurd" and metaphysically improbable, asserting that "one species does not have the existence of the essence in itself... to confer it to another species." In 2025, Ripperger hosted the "Restore Truth Conference" with Hugh Owen and Robert Sungenis aimed at countering "Darwinian evolution and alien deception."
Extraterrestrial life Ripperger holds that alleged extraterrestrial beings—specifically the archetype known as "Grays"—are actually demons masquerading as aliens. In a 2025 appearance on the Avoiding Babylon podcast, he argued that this demonic deception creates an "intermediate non-moral" identity to lure people into spiritual confusion. During a June 2026 appearance on the Rules for Retrogrades podcast, Ripperger expanded on this by explaining that human beings are the only rational physical animals in the order of creation. Regarding highly intelligent, non-human entities manifesting as aliens, he asserted:
He claimed that other exorcists have witnessed possessed individuals morph into the physical likeness of "Grays," but that the phenomena dissipates when the victim invokes the name of Jesus. In an interview on the Shawn Ryan Show, Ripperger further characterized the recent cultural and political focus on UFOs as a "diabolic diversionary tactic" orchestrated by demonic forces to distract the public from "moral degeneracy" and occult activities among global elites, specifically citing the Jeffrey Epstein scandal as an example. He argues that because demons fear exposure, they use the alien narrative to misdirect attention while offering a false savior narrative ("we're here to save humanity") that attempts to supplant Jesus Christ.
End times and the Antichrist Based on Catholic prophecy and his observations of diabolic activity, Ripperger believes the world is approaching a period of chastisement. He notes a shift in demonic strategy where demons are now emboldened to attack "good families," an indicator that "they know their time is short" and that God will soon intervene.