Exorcist Fr. Carlos Martins Alleges Defamation by The Pillar

A famed exorcist is alleging defamation by a Catholic media organization.

In a letter obtained by Stella Maris Media, Fr. Carlos Martins, producer of the hit podcast series The Exorcist Files, through his attorney is accusing the Pillar of publishing an article that is “defamatory and entirely irresponsible in terms of what it suggests.”

The article in question, titled “St. Jude Relic Tour Suspended Over Police Investigation,” opens with a paragraph stating that Fr. Martins “faces an Illinois police investigation over alleged inappropriate conduct involving children.”

The article was based on a statement issued by Fr. Michael Lane and Fr. Gregory Alberts of Queen of Apostles Parish in Joliet, Illinois. That statement claims that Fr. Martins, during a Nov. 21 parish visit, was involved in “an incident” with “some students” in the church. 

“We immediately contacted the police,” the statement continues. “A police investigation is still on-going. The priest was confronted with the information. We informed the priest that he must depart from our parish and out of our Diocese.”

The statement also referenced the Diocesan Safe Environment Policies, and said the students were “safe.”

After the Pillar published its article, commentators speculated as to the nature of the “incident,” some wondering if it may have involved sex abuse of minors. For instance, journalist Rod Dreher initially claimed in a now-deleted tweet that Fr. Martins was “suspended” for “sexual misconduct.”

Dreher later explained, “I deleted a tweet abt Father Martins, based on my inaccurate reading of the @PillarCatholic report.”

Dreher wrote in a Nov. 25 substack article, " You might assume, as I initially did, that “inappropriate conduct involving children” involves sexual misconduct. It’s not true. It’s not remotely true! I gathered more information on the incident — information I am not yet authorized to make public, but will as soon as police finish their investigation — but I can assure you that this is nonsense. As we will all soon know, it’s an example of an innocent Catholic priest held up to humiliation and contempt, including by Catholic authorities, in a hysterical overreaction by people eager to believe the worst about all priests."

Stella Maris Media contacted the diocese of Joliet, Illinois, which confirmed that the “incident” in question did not involve sexual misconduct.

We also contacted the Joliet Police Department but have yet to receive a response.

The legal letter from Fr. Martins’ attorney demands that the Pillar retract its article, or, in the alternative, supplement it with more information in order for readers “to evaluate for themselves the truth or falsity of the despicable crimes your article so haphazardly insinuates.”

The letter clarifies that more than 200 students attended the event where the “incident” took place, and that it involved a brief “chit-chat” with students.

“During his conversation with the older students, he made a comment to a student about her long hair, remarking, ‘You and I have almost the same hair style,’ a comment met with giggles. He then remarked that he also once had long hair like hers, and he joked he would ‘floss my teeth with it,’" the letter explained. "Again, his comment was met with laughter. He then asked the student, “Have you ever flossed with your hair?’ Laughing, she shook her head, no. He then said, ‘Well, you have the perfect length for it,’ as he lifted up a lock from her shoulders to show her its length. She giggled along with the others.”

After the student went home and told her father of the encounter, he “became infuriated” and called the police.

The police arrived at the parish, questioned students and determined there was no crime.

“It was only after the outraged father called the police a second time, insisting that they charge Fr. Martins with battery, that the police agreed to further investigate," the attorney noted. "There is no indication that there is any new evidence that would further implicate my client of any wrongdoing. To date, no charges have been filed.”

The letter accuses the Pillar of ignoring these facts: “The Pillar may have defamed Fr. Martins by insinuating he engaged in sexual crimes with children at the parish.” 

It also criticized the Catholic media outfit for its “salacious headline accusing Fr. Martins of ‘alleged inappropriate conduct involving children,’" going on to note, "The Pillar insinuates that the children were alone with Fr. Martins when the truth was that all interactions with children took place in a classroom setting with teachers, clergy, parish staff, and volunteers present.”

“This misinformation is so obviously damaging to Fr. Martins’ personal and professional character and reputation by implying that Fr. Martins behavior mirrors other instances of clergy abuse, a deplorable allusion that in no way reflects the facts. In addition to being defamatory, these statements may also constitute a violation of canon law which protects a priest’s good name and reputation.”

The letter continues: 

“The Pillar could have requested a police report, for example, or sought to speak to any of the hundreds of people at the event. Moreover, The Pillar provided no indication that they reached out to Fr. Martins for a comment or to otherwise sought his side of the story before publishing its screed."

The letter also goes on to criticize wording in the article that calls into question Fr. Martins’ exorcism ministry:

“[W]hen you question the 'allegedly demonic encounters' Fr. Martins shares on his podcast, The Pillar is in effect accusing our client of lying about his work as an exorcist.”

Father Martins is being represented by Marcella Burke of the Burke Law Group in Houston, Texas.

We contacted The Pillar's editor-in-chief J.D. Flynn for comment, but he declined to respond.

In a follow-up query to the diocese, this reporter asked why Fr. Lane's statement omitted the fact that the police initially confirmed no crime had been committed.

The communications office responded, "The police informed the parish and Diocese on Thursday, November 21 that their initial investigation found no evidence of a crime having occurred. On Friday, November 22 the police informed the parish and Diocese they decided to investigate further.  At the time the parish and Diocese issued a statement on Saturday, November 23, we considered the police investigation to be on-going.  It is indeed an on-going investigation today."

We also asked why Fr. Lane's statement omitted any acknowledgment that the "incident" was not sexual in nature, leading the public to speculate that Fr. Martins may have committed sex abuse of a minor.

The communications office responded, "All information in the parish and Diocesan statements posted on websites on Saturday, November 23 was accurate and remains accurate. The speculations of others is not within our control."

Father Martins' religious order, the Companions of the Cross, has issued a statement explaining that Fr. Martins has been suspended from ministry pending the police investigation:

"The ministry of Fr. Carlos Martins has been temporarily suspended pending an ongoing police investigation into a recent complaint at one of his relic expositions that took place in the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois," the statement reads. "Fr. Roger Vandenakker, General Superior of the Companions of the Cross, has been fully informed of this matter."

The order's statement links to the Joliet diocese's statement for reference. 

Read the full legal letter here.

11/26/2024: This article has been updated with information from Companions of the Cross.