Fr. Ripperger has agreed not to give interviews or speak in public for a year, and I say: finally. The priest exorcist should not speak publicly, save in certain controlled situations. And he should never become some sort of media sensation. 1. The Church has for many centuries warned against turning the sacramental into "spectacle." While Ripperger and the celebrity exorcist types stick to the letter of the law by not performing exorcisms publicly, they certainly violate the spirit of it by speaking publicly about their experiences later on. 2. The exorcist ought to be on guard against pride. Though I do not know Fr. Ripperger and would never accuse him of this, being so publicly facing does not aid him. History shows it often goes poorly for celebrity priests in general, so why take the risk when you already have a target on your back? 3. There's a tendency with these guys to claim a kind of gnostic knowledge. It can lead them to say some pretty wild, silly things, even if only in speculation, and silly things mislead the listener while turning the faith into buffoonery. Ripperger is no exception here, and some of his claims are bizarre at best. 4. Curiosity with regard to evil is not a virtue. There are certain things we ought to know and be on guard against, but that's where it ends for the overwhelming majority of priests and faithful alike. It can do real harm to focus on these things, when our attention ought to be on the One who renders evil impotent. 5. The celebrity exorcist tends towards titillation, just like any horror movie, and this serves no one. The sacramental is about healing, not about the (sometimes wild) details. 6. The best exorcists I know will never talk about what they do publicly, and are intentional about this. The reaction on Twitter is the predictable vitriol from the outrage peddlers who often, and very characteristically by the nature of their own grift, misunderstand the true issues at play. I applaud Fr. Ripperger for being outspoken about his beliefs, and for being unapologetic in his defense of the faith. I also appreciate the academic work he has done in this field: it is invaluable. Neither his fortitude nor scholarship is at question here, though. I wish Fr. Ripperger all the best as he focuses on the afflicted and his religious order, and ask that you join me in praying for him.