Father Carlos Martins has been cleared of misdemeanor charges. The charges stemmed from an incident at an Illinois parish. Details of the incident were not provided in the summary.
12 days ago
Father Carlos Martins, a prominent Catholic priest known for his "Treasures of the Church" relic tours and "The Exorcist Files" podcast, has been cleared of misdemeanor battery charges in Illinois 1 3 4. On July 30-31, 2025, a Will County court dismissed the charges, with Martins' attorney stating this was "exactly the result we were expecting" 1 3 4. The court's decision was based on a state attorney's motion for deferred prosecution and nolle prosequi, indicating the prosecution's decision not to pursue the case 1.
The court order explicitly noted that Father Martins had no prior criminal history, accusations of impropriety with minors, or any canonical discipline as a priest 1. His attorney emphasized that the charges were "absurd" and should never have been filed, calling the ruling a "full vindication" of his innocence 1 3 4.
The misdemeanor battery charge against Father Martins stemmed from an incident on November 21, 2024, at Queen of Apostles Parish in Joliet, Illinois 1 3 4. The parish reported an "incident with [Fr. Martins] and some students" to the police, subsequently instructing Martins to leave the parish and diocese 1. His national tour displaying a relic of St. Jude the Apostle was also halted, and his religious community, the Canadian Companions of the Cross, temporarily suspended his ministry 1.
The criminal complaint, filed in January 2025, alleged that Martins "knowingly without legal justification by any means made physical contact of an insulting or provoking nature" with a minor student 1. Specifically, it claimed he "placed the hair of [the minor] in his mouth" 1. Martins' attorney, Marcella Burke, previously stated that the incident involved Martins touching a young girl's hair while telling a joke about his baldness, occurring publicly in a classroom setting with other adults present 1 3 4. She denied that Martins pretended to floss with the student's hair, characterizing the accusations as an attempt to "takedown a good priest" 1.
Following the dismissal of charges, Father Martins expressed gratitude for the prayers and support he received, stating he is "thankful for the truth coming to light and look forward to resuming my ministry and continuing to preach the Gospel" 3 4. His religious order, the Companions of the Cross, is expected to release a statement regarding his return to ministry 1.
Before the incident, Father Martins was conducting a 16-month national tour with a relic of the arm of St. Jude the Apostle, which he claimed had not left Italy for 1,700 years and was made available at the request of the Holy See 1 3 4. This tour reportedly attracted almost 2 million pilgrims 3 4. Additionally, Martins launched "The Exorcist Files" podcast in 2023, featuring dramatizations of demonic encounters, which he stated was also initiated at the request of the Holy See to provide catechesis on spiritual warfare and exorcism 1 3 4.
What is the Church's teaching on clerical conduct?
The Catholic Church teaches that clerics, by virtue of their consecration to God through Holy Orders, are bound to pursue holiness in a special way, serving as dispensers of God's mysteries and examples to the faithful . This obligation extends to both their interior and exterior comportment, ensuring they are pleasing to God and others .
Clerics are called to a life of holiness that surpasses that of the laity, acting as "another Christ" and enlightening the world through their virtue . To achieve this perfection, they are to:
Clerics are expected to embody specific virtues and maintain discipline in their lives:
Diocesan bishops are responsible for ensuring that priests fulfill their obligations, providing them with the necessary means and institutions for their spiritual and intellectual development, and ensuring their adequate livelihood and social welfare . Bishops also promote good order and cooperation among all clerics in their diocese .