John Zuhlsdorf

John Zuhlsdorf, known online as "Fr. Z," is a Catholic priest and blogger. The National Catholic Reporter has described him as a controversial traditionalist. He is incardinated in the Italian Diocese of Velletri-Segni. From 2014 he lived and ministered in the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, under an agreement between the two dioceses. According to The Tablet, Bishop Vincenzo Apicella of Velletri-Segni said in a 2019 letter that Zuhlsdorf's activities were the responsibility of the Madison diocese.

Election exorcisms. After the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and before Congress certified the result on Jan. 6, 2021, Zuhlsdorf livestreamed exorcism prayers on YouTube. He said they were directed against demonic influence over the election. He said his bishop had authorized the rites. Bishop Donald Hying of Madison said he had not given permission for exorcisms connected to partisan political activity, though he had approved one for relief from the coronavirus pandemic. The videos were later removed from YouTube (The Tablet; WKOW).

Departure from Madison. On 14 January 2021 the Diocese of Madison said in a statement to its priests that Zuhlsdorf would leave the diocese to pursue other opportunities. It called this a mutual decision between him and Bishop Hying. The bishops of Madison and Velletri-Segni had decided not to renew the agreement that allowed him to live and minister outside his home diocese. The diocese said he remained in good canonical standing. To minister elsewhere, he would need the permission of another diocesan bishop. He did not say where he would go next, but said he intended to keep blogging (NCR; The Tablet). He has continued to publish his blog at wdtprs.com (wdtprs.com).