Court Allows Defamation Suit Over Exorcist Podcast Claims to Proceed

Father Carlos Martins, who co-hosts The Exorcist Files podcast and authored a book of the same name, sued Jesus Romero and Kyle Clement for defamation, claiming they falsely asserted he is not an exorcist. The lawsuit hinges on an email from Martins' religious order, Companions of the Cross, which confirmed he has permission to perform exorcisms but was presented by the defendants as a denial of his status. Judge Kay Behm of the Eastern District of Michigan concluded that the case does not invoke the ecclesiastical abstention doctrine because the contested statements do not question church doctrine or discipline.

Consequently, the court will assess whether the defendants' claims were factually inaccurate and therefore defamatory. The plaintiffs are represented by Michael Turco, Michael Price, and Todd McMurtry. The decision permits the parties to proceed to discovery on the defamation issues.