As questions grow over Father Chad Ripperger’s one-year withdrawal from public ministry, a former diocesan official disputes the claim that the priest willingly agreed, while a Catholic commentator alleges his teachings on marriage and feminism played a central role.
Questions surrounding the one-year restriction on Father Chad Ripperger’s public ministry are intensifying as a former diocesan official challenges the Archdiocese of Denver’s account of the arrangement and a Catholic commentator claims to know the underlying reason for the decision.
According to exclusive reporting by LifeSiteNews, Monsignor Ricardo Coronado-Arrascue, who previously served under Archbishop James Golka in the Diocese of Colorado Springs, has publicly disputed the suggestion that Ripperger voluntarily agreed to suspend his public appearances and interviews.
Meanwhile, Catholic author and podcaster Timothy Gordon has alleged that Ripperger’s teachings on feminism, patriarchy, and traditional Christian marriage were central to the archbishop’s decision.
Neither allegation has been independently established, and the Archdiocese of Denver has not publicly identified a doctrinal violation or specific misconduct as the reason for the restriction.
Archdiocese Says Ripperger Readily Agreed to One-Year Pause
The controversy began after reports emerged that Archbishop Golka had asked Ripperger, a prominent Catholic priest, exorcist, and Thomistic theologian, to undertake a one-year pause from public speaking and interviews.
In a statement provided to LifeSiteNews, the Archdiocese of Denver confirmed that Golka had met with Ripperger to discuss his ministry and the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother, the priestly community associated with his work.
According to the archdiocese, the archbishop requested a one-year “fast” from public speaking and interviews to allow Ripperger to concentrate on his community and those it serves.
The statement emphasized that Ripperger “readily agreed” and that the arrangement would be reviewed at the conclusion of the year.
The archdiocese also expressed gratitude for Ripperger’s priestly service and exorcism ministry.
However, that characterization is now being challenged.
Former Diocesan Official Disputes Voluntary Agreement
In an exclusive interview with LifeSiteNews Editor-in-Chief John-Henry Westen, Monsignor Coronado-Arrascue questioned whether Ripperger genuinely had a choice in accepting the restrictions.
Coronado previously served as judicial vicar and chancellor of the Diocese of Colorado Springs before stepping down in 2022, during Golka’s tenure as bishop.
Drawing on his own experience, Coronado alleged that Golka has previously presented involuntary departures as mutually agreed decisions.
He recalled that when he left his diocesan positions, the public explanation suggested he was pursuing other opportunities within the Church, a characterization he disputed.
Coronado argued that priests facing decisions by ecclesiastical superiors can find themselves unable to publicly challenge the explanations offered for their removal or restriction.
He rejected the suggestion that Ripperger’s withdrawal was necessarily voluntary, stating:
“No, it wasn’t. I can promise you that it wasn’t Father’s wish. It wasn’t my wish to leave Colorado Springs.”
Coronado’s comments reflect his interpretation of the situation based on his previous dealings with Golka. He did not present direct evidence establishing what occurred during the private conversation between the archbishop and Ripperger.
His own dispute with the Diocese of Colorado Springs has involved canonical and civil proceedings, including litigation that was dismissed.
The allegations nevertheless raise questions about how the arrangement was reached and whether Ripperger considered himself free to decline.
Catholic Commentator Claims Marriage and Feminism Teachings Were Central
A separate LifeSiteNews report has introduced another disputed explanation for the restrictions.
Timothy Gordon, a Catholic author, podcaster, and co-producer of the documentary What a Woman Is, has publicly asserted that Ripperger’s views on feminism, patriarchy, and Christian marriage were a principal reason for the archbishop’s intervention.
Gordon made the allegations through several posts on X and a video statement following news of the restrictions.
He said he possessed “moral certainty” that the controversy centered on Ripperger’s participation in the documentary and his teachings about the relationship between husbands and wives.
The documentary, released in December 2025 through Candace Owens’ platform, features Ripperger discussing feminism, the biblical account of the Fall, and traditional understandings of marriage and family life.
Gordon claimed that complaints about the documentary had reached ecclesiastical authorities and that its teachings had generated opposition.
In a subsequent public statement, Gordon went further, alleging that Ripperger had personally identified his views on women, marriage, and family as the principal ideological issue raised with him.
LifeSiteNews quoted Gordon as saying:
“Fr. Ripperger told me directly that the main ideological reason they offered him was his view of women/marriage/family.”
The assertion has not been independently confirmed by Ripperger or the Archdiocese of Denver.
The archdiocese’s public explanation continues to focus on allowing the priest time to devote himself to his community and ministry.
Restrictions Follow Major Public Appearances
The controversy comes after Ripperger reached an unusually large audience through appearances on prominent podcasts.
In March and July 2026, he appeared on the Shawn Ryan Show, discussing spiritual warfare, demonic activity, and Catholic teachings concerning the end times.
He also participated in an April 2026 interview with Tucker Carlson, addressing possession, occult practices, politics, and the spiritual dimensions of contemporary society.
According to LifeSiteNews, these appearances collectively reached millions of viewers and listeners.
The timing of the restrictions has prompted questions among Ripperger’s supporters about whether his growing public profile contributed to the decision.
However, no publicly disclosed evidence establishes a connection between the size of his audience and the archbishop’s request.
Supporters Call for Restoration of Public Ministry
The restrictions have generated considerable reaction among Catholics who follow Ripperger’s teaching and spiritual work.
LifeSiteNews launched a petition calling on Archbishop Golka to restore the priest’s public ministry. The petition has attracted tens of thousands of signatures and has been promoted by podcast host Shawn Ryan.
Supporters have expressed concern about the loss of Ripperger’s public teaching during the one-year period.
At the same time, Catholic bishops have responsibilities for overseeing priestly ministry and safeguarding ecclesiastical discipline within their jurisdictions.
The central unresolved questions concern the nature of the agreement, the reasons behind the request, and whether additional circumstances influenced the decision.
Questions Remain About the Decision
For now, the public accounts remain sharply different.
The Archdiocese of Denver describes a mutually accepted, temporary withdrawal from public speaking and interviews intended to benefit Ripperger’s priestly community.
Coronado challenges the voluntary nature of that arrangement, while Gordon alleges that controversy over Ripperger’s teachings on marriage and feminism played a decisive role.
Ripperger himself has confirmed the one-year duration and directed inquiries about the decision to the archbishop, according to LifeSiteNews.
Until further information becomes available, the precise circumstances surrounding the restriction remain unclear.
What is certain is that the decision has placed renewed attention on the relationship between ecclesiastical authority, public Catholic teaching, and the responsibilities of priests whose ministries reach audiences far beyond their own dioceses.
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