‘Exorcist Files’ priest sues Catholic commentators who questioned his credentials

A prominent priest who hosts a popular podcast about exorcisms is suing two lay Catholic commentators for defamation, alleging that they falsely told listeners of another podcast that he is not an exorcist. The two commentators are associates of a well-known exorcist, Father Chad Ripperger, who is not a defendant in the lawsuit.

Father Carlos Martins, host of “The Exorcist Files” and author of a book with the same title, filed the lawsuit, which is pending, in November 2025 against Jesse Romero (identified in court papers as Jesus O. Romero Jr.) and Kyle Clement. At the time , Romero was the principal host of the podcast “Jesus 911,” while Clement, director of formation and training for a religious society of priests that Ripperger founded, was a guest on Romero’s podcast.

The lawsuit also names as a defendant Catholic Resource Center Inc., of Los Angeles, which operates Virgin Most Powerful Radio, the broadcaster of “Jesus 911 .” According to Martins’ complaint, Clement made false statements about Martins while appearing on the podcast in November 2024.

“Clement asserted that Fr. Martins ‘is not who he says he is’” and that Martins is “opining and talking about things which…