A Brazilian bishop has sparked controversy after questioning the theological basis for consecration to St. Michael the Archangel and suggesting that the devil Catholics battle may be “rather imaginary.”
According to LifeSiteNews, Bishop Vicente Ferreira of the Diocese of Livramento de Nossa Senhora in Bahia, Brazil, made the comments in a post on X last week.
“Are there theological justifications for Consecration to Saint Michael? Consecration is to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” Ferreira wrote, according to LifeSiteNews. He then asked, “Isn’t the devil we fight against rather imaginary?”
Ferreira went on to argue that Christians should focus instead on combating various social evils.
“The greater exorcism should be: of homophobia, of femicide, of racism, of crimes against indigenous peoples. Of that legion of evils,” he wrote in the Portuguese-language statement, as translated and reported by LifeSiteNews.
The remarks came on the same day that Archbishop José Carlos Campos of Montes Claros consecrated his archdiocese to St. Michael, according to LifeSiteNews. The timing led the outlet to suggest Ferreira’s remarks appeared to be directed at the consecration.
The bishop’s comments quickly drew criticism on social media, particularly over his suggestion that the spiritual battle against the devil could be considered imaginary.
“What is your religion? You should convert to Catholicism,” one X user responded, according to LifeSiteNews. “At your age, worrying about these woke idiocies isn’t going to get you to heaven. You should be concerned with saving your soul.”
Another social media user criticized the bishop’s apparent view of devotion to the saints, writing, “For this Bishop, the Church is not in communion with the saints; the Apostolic Nuncio should be aware of this Bishop’s posts. There are already 34 dioceses dedicated to Saint Michael the Archangel in Brazil.”
The controversy touches on a fundamental element of Catholic teaching: the existence of Satan and the reality of spiritual warfare are not merely symbolic concepts.
Sacred Scripture presents the devil as a real spiritual being opposed to God and His purposes. St. Michael the Archangel is particularly associated with the battle against Satan. In the Book of Revelation, Michael and his angels fight against the dragon, identified as “the Devil and Satan,” who is cast down along with his angels.
Catholic devotion to St. Michael therefore has a longstanding connection to prayers for protection against evil. Catholics do not worship angels or saints, but ask for their intercession before God.
LifeSiteNews also pointed to the advice of exorcist Father Chad Ripperger, who has recommended invoking St. Michael for protection against demonic activity. According to the outlet, Ripperger has spoken publicly about praying to St. Michael for protection following an encounter with a woman whom he believed had attempted to curse him.
The Catholic Church’s understanding of spiritual warfare ultimately recognizes both the reality of personal evil and the responsibility of Christians to confront sin and injustice in the world. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Ferreira’s remarks have consequently raised concerns among Catholics who see his characterization of the devil as “rather imaginary” as difficult to reconcile with Scripture and the Church’s consistent teaching about Satan, the fallen angels and humanity’s spiritual struggle against evil.
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