In a revealing interview with Infocatólica, Brother Carmelo of the Heralds of the Gospel denounces false accusations, vocational paralysis, and speaks out on the Vatican commissariat that has dragged on for years.
Newsroom – 21/11/2025 – Gaudiumpress – Brother Carmelo Jesús Callejas Escobar, a native of Seville and President of the Heralds of the Gospel in Spain, has granted an in-depth interview in which he addresses the painful situation his association has endured for years under pontifical commission. A member since his youth, Brother Carmelo completed his formation with the Heralds and has dedicated his life primarily to catechesis in cities such as Zaragoza, Madrid, Granada, Palencia, Guadix, and even Mexico. He has also specialized in lifeguarding and first aid, led numerous courses on Total Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the method of St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, coordinated Marian Missions in several Spanish dioceses, and collaborated with Radio María España and Radio Santa María de Toledo. Passionate about constructing large Nativity scenes as a tool for evangelisation, he views them as a powerful means to reach both young people and adults.
In the following interview, conducted by infocatolica amid the ongoing Vatican intervention that began years ago, Brother Carmelo speaks openly about what he describes as an unjust and incomprehensible measure.
Q: Brother Carmelo, why do you think the Heralds of the Gospel have been under the control of a pontifical commissioner for so many years?
Brother Carmelo Jesús Callejas Escobar: That truly is the million-dollar question. Canon Law is crystal clear: the appointment of a commissioner must be justified by a serious cause, and that cause must be made known. Yet the decree spoke vaguely of “problematic situations and grave deficiencies” without ever specifying them objectively. This lack of concreteness means that, regrettably, anything goes.
What we do see clearly is the existence of personal — and sometimes collective — animosity on the part of certain authorities who, for multiple reasons, feel uncomfortable with our charism and have directed toward us a series of accusations that are completely unfounded. Furthermore, a small group of detractors — some former members, others who never even belonged to the association — motivated by personal aversion and the desire to justify lifestyles distant from the commandments, have organized a campaign of great malice. With the support of those authorities I mentioned, they have tried by every means to destroy the reputation and undermine the integrity of the Heralds.
Despite our total obedience and benevolent acceptance of everything that has been asked of us, the intervention drags on. Frankly, the only explanation that remains to us is a profound rejection of the human character and the charism of the Heralds of the Gospel.
Q: The most regrettable thing, you say, is that no irregularity has been proven, yet the association remains under suspicion and with many activities paralysed…
Brother Carmelo: Exactly. Everything we have been accused of has been demonstrated, time and again, to be false, slanderous, or half-truths taken out of context. It is very painful that the presumption of innocence — a most basic and fundamental right — is set aside simply because of personal rejection. An institution whose only desire is to do good for souls and which has always placed itself at the service of Holy Mother Church is being gravely harmed.
This suspicion has concrete consequences: deacons who have been unable to receive priestly ordination for almost seven years because of a decision that we consider unjust and contrary to Canon Law; young men who have finished their studies and are now in limbo; almost 200 others who are waiting to emit temporary vows or who should have emitted perpetual vows but cannot; families who trusted the institution for the vocational discernment of their children and now see them excluded from our formation centres, left without direction because of the canonical instability. In short, it is a generalised harm that we are suffering without fully understanding why, almost without being able to defend ourselves, and beneath a cloud of suspicion that damages the good name to which every human person and every apostolic work has a right — as St Thomas Aquinas himself teaches.
Q: A sanction without dialogue, without evidence, and almost without possibility of defence. What interests could be behind all this?
Brother Carmelo: Perhaps the desire to disintegrate a charism within the Church or even to destroy our institution. As you rightly point out, everything has been done without real dialogue, without concrete evidence, and practically without defence. We see this as an affront to a a charism inspired by the Holy Spirit and recognized by the Church with three pontifical approvals. For those who know us and have seen our work at the service of the Church, this course of action is incomprehensible. It reveals an excessive and disproportionate interest in discrediting us by any means. We could paraphrase the Gospel: “If I have spoken wrongly — or acted wrongly — bear witness to the wrong.”
Q: There seems to be a notable disparity in the way some ecclesial movements are treated compared with others that present objectively more serious problems…
Brother Carmelo: Comparisons are odious, it is said, but the evidence is there for all to see. There are two weights and two measures: a true “witch hunt” against certain movements for ideological reasons — movements that simply want to be Catholic in the fullest sense — while truly grave situations in other places are overlooked with impunity. Anyone who is even minimally informed about the current affairs of the Church, both in Spain and worldwide, will recognise the double standard you mention. It is very sad.
Q: As President of the Heralds in Spain, how are you living this situation that has now become a worldwide persecution?
Brother Carmelo: With great sadness, but also with great spiritual strength and absolute confidence that the truth will shine forth in the midst of so much darkness. The Lord repeats many times in the Gospel that being persecuted, slandered, and silenced is part of following Him. As president, I feel an enormous responsibility toward the many souls who participate in our charism in one way or another. It is hard to explain to people that the greatest defamation comes from within one’s own home. That is why we ask everyone to pray — with faith and perseverance — for the Heralds and for the Church. We are certain that God is drawing good from all of this, as St Paul says: “All things work together for good for those who love God.”
Q: Recently the book “The Heralds’ Commissariat” was published. How do you evaluate it, and was it truly necessary?
Brother Carmelo: I value it above all as an act of justice toward the truth. So many people keep asking us why this situation exists that we have reached the point where we have both the right and the moral duty to offer the necessary explanations. We had remained silent until now so as not to scandalize many good souls who rightly see the Church as mother and teacher. But the moment has come when, for the preservation of the good name of the institution and its members — and even, I dare say, to protect the image of the Church herself — we have been obliged to break that silence. That is why this rigorous study, carried out by several Heralds with deep academic formation, has been absolutely necessary.
Q: To what extent does the book shed light on the facts and vindicate the integrity of the Heralds?
Brother Carmelo: Completely. Everything recounted is extensively documented, and the narration is dispassionate yet absolutely truthful. It is a matter of simple justice: prolonging the situation could give the impression that serious problems really exist when, as the book demonstrates, they do not. Any person of good faith who reads it with common sense and a sense of justice will understand the true reality of this commissariat. Even the commissioner’s own legal advisor acknowledged in his report to the Vatican that there has been no conviction against any Herald or against the association, since all the judicial processes initiated were won by us.
Q: Did you expect such a positive reception?
Brother Carmelo: The initial intention was simply to make the work known to those most directly interested. To our pleasant surprise, it has been received with enormous enthusiasm in many ecclesial and civil sectors. The media coverage and the comments we see reflect overwhelming support. People want the truth and want to understand why a tree that bears good fruit is being attacked in this way.
Q: Why is it worth reading?
Brother Carmelo: To know the truth of what has happened and is happening in many areas of our beloved Church; because it is a duty of justice toward God, toward the Church, and toward all who share this charism; and because people of good will deserve a real and objective vision of the facts. The book is an account of events, documented and without bias — it simply relates the facts of what has happened without any editorial opinion.
Q: Finally, how can someone come to know the Heralds of the Gospel and collaborate with our apostolate in Spain?
Brother Carmelo: Thank God, today the internet is a marvellous instrument for those who sincerely seek. We have an active YouTube channel and presence on social networks; through the consecration groups animated for years by Fr Manuel Rodríguez, EP, more than two million Spanish-speakers have made or renewed their consecration to Jesus through Mary according to the method of St Louis Marie de Montfort.
In Madrid we celebrate the First Saturday devotion every month at 11:30 a.m. in the Collegiate Church of San Isidro, and we carry out activities throughout Spain. The best collaboration is prayer — persevering, humble, confident prayer for the sanctification of souls and the good of the Church. That is what we Heralds value most of all. Collaborating also means disseminating true and objective information about us and, for those who can and wish, helping us materially, since we live by Divine Providence. But above all: pray and seek the truth.
– Raju Hasmukh with files from Infocatolica
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