A renowned Detroit priest who organizes a podcast of exorcism was taken at the battery costs on Monday because he reportedly had a teenage girl and pretended to be flossing with it during an event in a church in Illinois in November.
Father Carlos Martins, 50, approached the 13-year-old and made comments about her hair before he grabbed it and a flossing movement in his mouth while standing in line to view a religious relic in St. Paul’s apostle church Jolite, according to the police and local points of sale.
Martins, who is co-host of the exorcist files podcastwas then behind the young girl and made a horribly growling noise, the police said, According to Fox 32.
The bizarre incident took place on November 21, 2024, while Martins was visiting with students as part of a National Touring exhibition by St. Jude The Apostel.
He was arrested on Monday and accused of a crime battery, according to judicial documents submitted in Will County.
Marcelle Burke, who represents Martins, called the accusations ‘Egregious and unfounded’.
“The evidence will show that Fr. Carlos has not affected anyone, ‘Burke said in a statement to Stella Maris Media.
“He didn’t put anyone in his mouth, let alone ‘flossing’ with the hair of a student or ‘growl’, in addition to other completely false and repellent accusations – this remains a removal of a good priest and an attempted shakedown of the church . We have faith in this legal process and are looking forward to our customer who is fully acquitted. “
Burke claimed that Martins’ interaction with the girl was all a “joke” to build an “understanding” with the student and said the priest had done that he was bald as a conversation starter, OSV News reported.
Companions from the cross said that Martins withdrew from the ministry after the allegations had been made – an action said that Burke should not be misinterpreted as a recognition of guilt.
“The companions of the cross see accusations of misconduct as an urgent issue that requires serious attention,” The missionary church said this week in a statement.
“We pray for all those who are hit by this painful situation.”
Martins, whose status in the Archdiocese of Detroit is mentioned as ‘the ministry withdrawn’, did not argue.
He has to return to Will County Circuit Court on 24 February.
