Real-life exorcist reveals eerie encounter, warns Hollywood misses most terrifying part of demonic possession
Summary
Catholic exorcist Father Carlos Martins and co-host Ryan Bethea are promoting the third season of “The Exorcist Files,” a podcast dramatizing purported exorcism cases. Martins described alleged encounters involving threats, unusual physical behavior and supposed demonic knowledge, while emphasizing prayer, reconciliation with Christ and professional discernment over Hollywood-style confrontation. Bethea said some cases involve Ouija boards, astrology and tarot, but acknowledged that unexplained experiences should not automatically be attributed to supernatural causes. The season launched October 5, with episodes scheduled through the following two months.
Watchmen Signals
Biblical Context
The reported subject connects directly with several biblical themes, although Scripture does not authenticate the specific incidents described or establish that the podcast’s cases are demonic. The Gospels and Acts record encounters interpreted as demonic oppression or possession, including Jesus’ interaction with the Gerasene demoniac and Paul’s confrontation with a spirit associated with divination. Those passages support the existence of a biblical category of spiritual conflict, but they do not provide independent confirmation for modern anecdotal accounts. The article’s references to Ouija boards, astrology and tarot also relate to the Bible’s explicit warnings against divination and occult practices. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 addresses practices such as divination, sorcery and consulting the dead; this is a more direct connection to the article’s subject than a general association with Halloween. At the same time, the passage does not address every modern object or activity by name, so applying it to particular entertainment practices requires moral and theological judgment. The hosts’ emphasis on caution, prayer and discernment can be compared with New Testament teaching about spiritual opposition and testing spiritual claims. Ephesians 6:10-18 presents spiritual warfare as requiring reliance on God rather than human power, while 1 Peter 5:8-9 calls believers to sobriety, vigilance and resistance in faith. First John 4:1 instructs believers to test claims about spiritual sources rather than accept them uncritically. These passages support discernment and dependence on God, but they do not validate the reported testimony or prescribe the Catholic exorcism process described here. The article’s emphasis on reconciliation with Christ and freedom from fear also has a general Christian parallel, but Scripture’s focus is not sensational investigation of demonic experiences. The reported accounts should therefore be distinguished from biblical teaching: the Bible directly addresses demons, occult practices and spiritual vigilance, while the specific modern claims remain unverified.
Biblical Sources
Scripture references supporting the biblical context above.
The instruction to test spiritual claims is relevant to the article’s acknowledgment that unexplained experiences should not automatically be labeled supernatural and that discernment is necessary.
Believers are told to remain sober and watchful because of the adversary, and to resist him in faith. This supports the article’s themes of vigilance and resisting spiritual danger without confirming its anecdotes.
Paul confronts a spirit associated with divination. The passage directly relates to the article’s discussion of alleged spiritual influence and occult-related practices.
The passage prohibits divination, sorcery, consulting the dead and related occult practices, providing direct biblical context for the article’s discussion of Ouija boards, astrology and tarot.
Paul describes spiritual opposition and calls believers to rely on God’s strength, truth, righteousness, faith and prayer rather than human force. This relates to the hosts’ discussion of spiritual warfare and preparation.
Jesus encounters and restores a man described as being possessed by an unclean spirit. This is a direct biblical account relevant to the article’s subject, while not independently verifying the modern cases reported.
Jesus addresses a severe case involving an unclean spirit and emphasizes prayer. The passage is relevant to the article’s emphasis on prayer, though it does not establish the methods or claims of modern exorcists.
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