Latest news with #CompanionsoftheCross
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Yahoo
Exorcist priest accused of ripping out teen's hair, 'growling' in bizarre spiritual cleansing
A Michigan priest known for leading religious relic tours and hosting an exorcism podcast has been charged after allegedly placing a teenage girl's hair in his mouth and proceeding to floss his teeth with it. Father Carlos Martins, a member of the Catholic Church and the co-host of "The Exorcist Files" podcast, was charged with misdemeanor battery in Illinois for the incident in November. "The Exorcist Files" podcast, which is accompanied by a book with the same title, boasts of Martins' ability as an expert in exorcism and relays his personal stories. The incident unraveled during a relic of St. Jude's tour at the Queen of Apostles parish in Joliet, Illinois, on Nov. 21, 2024. Catholic Archdiocese Of Los Angeles Agrees To Pay $880M To Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors Martins "grabbed the hair" of a 13-year-old girl and placed it "in his mouth" in a "flossing motion," according to the criminal complaint, reviewed by Fox News Digital. Read On The Fox News App The Joliet Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that following the bizarre interaction, Martins proceeded to sit behind the teen girl and "make a growling noise." Following the interaction, the religious tour was promptly shut down, and local law enforcement were called to the scene to intercede. The priest was confronted by employees of the Diocese of Joliet, and he was told that "he must depart from our parish and out of our Diocese." "In an abundance of caution, the veneration of the relic and evening mass were canceled," the diocese said in a release. Martins was processed by the Joliet Police Department, arraigned, and released as he awaits his pretrial hearing, court records from the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court in Will County showed. Death Of Teacher With 20 Stab Wounds To Be Reexamined As Parents Settle With City Martins' next court date is set for Feb. 24, though he is not required to appear at that pretrial hearing, Will County officials said. In a statement, the Companions of the Cross, the religious order that Treasures of the Church is affiliated with, said Martins agreed to withdraw from his pastoral duties after the church was informed of the allegations. "He remains entitled to due process, as is any accused," the church said. "The Companions of the Cross look upon allegations of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention. We pray for all those who are affected by this painful situation." Martins' status with the Archdiocese of Detroit is now listed as "Ministry revoked," according to the church's website. Martins' attorney could not be reached for article source: Exorcist priest accused of ripping out teen's hair, 'growling' in bizarre spiritual cleansing
Fox News
08-02-2025
- Fox News
Exorcist priest accused of ripping out teen's hair, 'growling' in bizarre spiritual cleansing
A Michigan priest known for leading religious relic tours and hosting an exorcism podcast has been charged after allegedly placing a teenage girl's hair in his mouth and proceeding to floss his teeth with it. Father Carlos Martins, a member of the Catholic Church and the co-host of "The Exorcist Files" podcast, was charged with misdemeanor battery in Illinois for the incident in November. "The Exorcist Files" podcast, which is accompanied by a book with the same title, boasts of Martins' ability as an expert in exorcism and relays his personal stories. The incident unraveled during a relic of St. Jude's tour at the Queen of Apostles parish in Joliet, Illinois, on Nov. 21, 2024. Martins "grabbed the hair" of a 13-year-old girl and placed it "in his mouth" in a "flossing motion," according to the criminal complaint, reviewed by Fox News Digital. The Joliet Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that following the bizarre interaction, Martins proceeded to sit behind the teen girl and "make a growling noise." Following the interaction, the religious tour was promptly shut down, and local law enforcement were called to the scene to intercede. The priest was confronted by employees of the Diocese of Joliet, and he was told that "he must depart from our parish and out of our Diocese." "In an abundance of caution, the veneration of the relic and evening mass were canceled," the diocese said in a release. Martins was processed by the Joliet Police Department, arraigned, and released as he awaits his pretrial hearing, court records from the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court in Will County showed. Martins' next court date is set for Feb. 24, though he is not required to appear at that pretrial hearing, Will County officials said. In a statement, the Companions of the Cross, the religious order that Treasures of the Church is affiliated with, said Martins agreed to withdraw from his pastoral duties after the church was informed of the allegations. "He remains entitled to due process, as is any accused," the church said. "The Companions of the Cross look upon allegations of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention. We pray for all those who are affected by this painful situation." Martins' status with the Archdiocese of Detroit is now listed as "Ministry revoked," according to the church's website. Martins' attorney could not be reached for comment.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Yahoo
Priest accused of using teen girl's hair as floss as they waited in line to see a relic
A priest has been arrested after allegedly using a 13-year-old girl's hair as floss while waiting to see a relic, police said. Carlos Martins was detained Monday following the November 21 incident, when officers arrived at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Joliet, Illinois, in the afternoon, police said in a statement. The church was hosting an exhibition and Mass as well as a national tour of the Relics of St Jude the Apostle. The priest, who was visiting from Detroit as part of the St. Jude relic tour, is alleged to have approached the girl while she was in line to view the relic. He's reported to have asked about her hair before grabbing it and making a flossing motion in his mouth using the hair, according to the police statement. The girl told police that Martins then sat behind her and made a growling sound, officials said. Following an investigation, detectives submitted their report to the Will County State's Attorney's Office. The office approved a misdemeanor battery charge against the 50-year-old. He was detained on Monday morning, processed and subsequently released on a notice to appear. The priest's status with the Archdiocese of Detroit is listed as 'ministry revoked.' A hearing has been scheduled in Will County Circuit Court in Joliet for February 24. Martins is known for performing exorcisms and hosting The Exorcist Files podcast, The Daily Mail noted. Martins' attorney, Marcella Burke, told Stella Maris Media that the charge against her client is 'egregious and unfounded.' 'The evidence will show that Father Carlos did not 'floss' with a student's hair or 'growl' among other completely false and repulsive accusations,' said Burke. The attorney went on to state that the allegations were 'a takedown of a good priest and an attempted shakedown of the Church.' 'As he always does, Father Martins began his interaction with the attendees in 'chit-chat' dialogue. He is bald and apt to joke about it as a conversation starter,' Burke said in a letter obtained by OSV News. '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 hairstyle,'' she added. 'He then remarked that he also once had long hair like hers, and he joked he would 'floss my teeth with it,'' Burke went on. '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,' the attorney claimed. Burke said in her November statement that when the teenager shared the story at home, her father 'became upset by what he heard and called the police.' The Companions of the Cross, Martins' order, suspended him pending an investigation but subsequently stated that due process was needed. 'The Companions of the Cross look upon allegations of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention,' the order said in a statement, according to The Mail. 'We pray for all those who are affected by this painful situation.'
The Independent
29-01-2025
- The Independent
Priest accused of using teen girl's hair as floss as they waited in line to see a relic
A priest has been arrested after allegedly using a 13-year-old girl's hair as floss while waiting to see a relic, police said. Carlos Martins was detained Monday following the November 21 incident, when officers arrived at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Joliet, Illinois, in the afternoon, police said in a statement. The church was hosting an exhibition and Mass as well as a national tour of the Relics of St Jude the Apostle. The priest, who was visiting from Detroit as part of the St. Jude relic tour, is alleged to have approached the girl while she was in line to view the relic. He's reported to have asked about her hair before grabbing it and making a flossing motion in his mouth using the hair, according to the police statement. The girl told police that Martins then sat behind her and made a growling sound, officials said. Following an investigation, detectives submitted their report to the Will County State's Attorney's Office. The office approved a misdemeanor battery charge against the 50-year-old. He was detained on Monday morning, processed and subsequently released on a notice to appear. The priest's status with the Archdiocese of Detroit is listed as 'ministry revoked.' A hearing has been scheduled in Will County Circuit Court in Joliet for February 24. Martins is known for performing exorcisms and hosting The Exorcist Files podcast, The Daily Mail noted. Martins' attorney, Marcella Burke, told Stella Maris Media that the charge against her client is 'egregious and unfounded.' 'The evidence will show that Father Carlos did not 'floss' with a student's hair or 'growl' among other completely false and repulsive accusations,' said Burke. The attorney went on to state that the allegations were 'a takedown of a good priest and an attempted shakedown of the Church.' 'As he always does, Father Martins began his interaction with the attendees in 'chit-chat' dialogue. He is bald and apt to joke about it as a conversation starter,' Burke said in a letter obtained by OSV News. '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 hairstyle,'' she added. 'He then remarked that he also once had long hair like hers, and he joked he would 'floss my teeth with it,'' Burke went on. '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,' the attorney claimed. Burke said in her November statement that when the teenager shared the story at home, her father 'became upset by what he heard and called the police.' The Companions of the Cross, Martins' order, suspended him pending an investigation but subsequently stated that due process was needed. 'The Companions of the Cross look upon allegations of misconduct as an urgent matter that requires serious attention,' the order said in a statement, according to The Mail. 'We pray for all those who are affected by this painful situation.'
