PeoplePublic figure
Michael VorisInactive
United StatesChurch MilitantNo analyses yet
About Michael Voris
Michael Voris founded St. Michael's Media, a Ferndale, Michigan, nonprofit, in 2006, according to the Associated Press. He was the public face of its online video and news service, first called RealCatholicTV and, from June 2012, ChurchMilitant.TV, later Church Militant.
In December 2011, as the network's senior executive producer, Voris disputed the Archdiocese of Detroit's authority over the group after the archdiocese said it did not regard RealCatholicTV as authorized to use the word "Catholic" in promoting its activities; the network renamed itself the following June (Catholic News Agency).
In a June 2020 video, Voris called Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington a liar and repeated earlier Church Militant claims about him, according to Catholic World Report. The Archdiocese of Detroit condemned the video's language as racist and derogatory and said Church Militant was not affiliated with or endorsed by the archdiocese.
On November 21, 2023, the St. Michael's Media board said Voris had been asked to resign for breaching the Church Militant morality clause and that it had accepted his resignation, without disclosing what the breach involved. Voris posted a video statement of nearly 14 minutes on X in which he apologized but did not specify the reason for his departure (AP; Detroit Catholic).
Voris was named individually in the federal defamation suit brought by Fr. Georges de Laire over a 2019 Church Militant article, and he was not part of the organization's February 2024 settlement, which included a $500,000 payment and a commitment to close Church Militant (AP; OSV News). Simcha Fisher's Catholic blog, citing court filings and the plaintiff's attorney, reported that Voris later settled his part of the case in 2024 and issued a written apology to de Laire. This profile found no verified reporting of a current public media role as of October 2026. See Church Militant closure.
On the timeline
Full timelineDated events, newest first.
Church Militant settles priest's defamation suit for $500,000 and agrees to close
The plaintiff's law firm announced that St. Michael's Media had settled Fr. Georges de Laire's federal defamation suit over a 2019 article with a retraction, an apology and a $500,000 payment, and that Church Militant would cease…
3 sources
Catholic news site Church Militant agrees to pay $500K in defamation case and… (Associated Press (via Bangor Daily News))Right-wing Catholic outlet Church Militant to close in April (National Catholic Reporter)Church Militant to shut down as defamation saga ignited by a radical… (OSV News (via The Monitor, Diocese of Trenton))
Church Militant founder Michael Voris resigns at board's request
The St. Michael's Media board said founder Michael Voris had been asked to resign for breaching the Church Militant morality clause and that it had accepted his resignation, without disclosing details. Voris apologized in a video on X…
SourcesFounder of far-right Catholic site resigns over breach of its morality clause,… (Associated Press (via Bangor Daily News))Church Militant says founder Michael Voris asked to resign for breach of… (OSV News (via Detroit Catholic))
Appeals court upholds ruling that Baltimore cannot block Church Militant rally
A Fourth Circuit panel upheld an October 12, 2021, district-court ruling that Baltimore could not prevent St. Michael's Media from holding a rally near the U.S. bishops' November meeting. The district judge had found likely viewpoint…
SourcesAppeals court agrees city can't ban Catholic group's rally (Associated Press (via The Washington Times))Federal judge rules Baltimore cannot block Church Militant rally (Catholic World Report (CNA))
Archdiocese of Detroit condemns Church Militant video about Archbishop Wilton Gregory
In June 2020 the Archdiocese of Detroit condemned language in a Church Militant video about Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington as racist and derogatory, and said the outlet was not affiliated with, endorsed or recommended by the…
SourcesStatement regarding recent comments made about Archbishop of Washington, D.C.,… (Archdiocese of Detroit)Detroit archdiocese criticizes 'racist and derogatory language' from Church… (Catholic World Report)
RealCatholicTV renames itself ChurchMilitant.TV after Detroit archdiocese objection
After the Archdiocese of Detroit said it did not regard RealCatholicTV as authorized under canon law to use the word "Catholic" in promoting its activities, the Michigan-based service changed its name to ChurchMilitant.TV in June 2012.
SourceReal Catholic TV service removes 'Catholic' from new name (Catholic News Agency)
Michael Voris founds St. Michael's Media, later the home of Church Militant
Michael Voris founded St. Michael's Media in Ferndale, Michigan, in 2006. Its video service, first called RealCatholicTV and later Church Militant, grew to more than 40 full-time staff by 2023.
Sources for this profile
- Founder of far-right Catholic site resigns over breach of its morality clause, group says — Associated Press (via Bangor Daily News), Nov 21, 2023
- Church Militant says founder Michael Voris asked to resign for breach of morality clause — OSV News (via Detroit Catholic)
- Real Catholic TV service removes 'Catholic' from new name — Catholic News Agency, Jun 17, 2012
- Detroit archdiocese criticizes 'racist and derogatory language' from Church Militant — Catholic World Report
- Statement regarding recent comments made about Archbishop of Washington, D.C., Wilton D. Gregory — Archdiocese of Detroit
- Catholic news site Church Militant agrees to pay $500K in defamation case and is expected to close — Associated Press (via Bangor Daily News), Mar 4, 2024
- Church Militant to shut down as defamation saga ignited by a radical traditionalist sect concludes — OSV News (via The Monitor, Diocese of Trenton), Mar 5, 2024
- Three years later, Voris is sorry, but the lawsuit isn't over — simchafisher.com (blog)
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