Discerning The Spirit

Is This Spirit, of Christ?

©Prakash John Mascarenhas, Bombay. This page is copyright. See also page of reference links.
9th August 2003. Revised 11th August 2003.


I found a reference to a group, Spiritus Christi, lumped together with the SSPV, etc., implied as being Schismatic, etc. groups, in a blog operated by Karen Knapp. That sent me searching for information, since I had not heard of that group before.

I found that the Spiritus Christi group has its official page at http://www.SpiritusChristi.org, although there are numerous private pages by members. The official site has a history page. That page sets out Spiritus Christi's version of events that led eventually to the erection of the group as an independent body.

What is however intriguing is that there does not seem to be any official page available online setting out the version or perspective of the mother body from which Spiritus Christi seceded. That is strange, given the explicit and implicit charges made by the seceders.

James Callan Spiritus Christi is a group that styles itself as "Catholic", condones sodomism and claims to have women priests. Those are only the main aberrations.

In this article, I will investigate the history of events and claims made by Spiritus Christi.

My sources for information when I wrote this article were the Spiritus Christi website and other propositional websites. I have now found a new webpage - a newsreport written before the Callanists consummated their schism: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/religion/july-dec98/church_11-23.html



It is necessary for me to provide a background on my own perspective of such issues. I am Catholic. I affirm the orthodox Catholic faith, rejecting the "Reforms" of 1958-1965 under Roncalli and "Vatican II". Those who instituted this "Reform" repudiated the Catholic Faith. They pretend to still be the Catholic Church, although they also call themselves the New Church. I call it the Antichurch. And they are led by men who repudiate the Catholic Faith and its belief in the papacy, but who yet pretend to be "popes". We have had four of these apostates pretenders yet: Roncalli, Montini, Luciani and Wojtyla.

I acknowledge His Holiness Pope Michael as the Pope.

Catholicism is constitutionally incompatible with the Modernist heresy which is the ideology of the New Church, with Sodomism and with "Women priests." Catholicism is constitutionally exclusive and intolerant of evil and error. Catholicism constitutionally demands that States must also be Confessional, and Coercive in confessing the True Faith. To deny this is to deny the Catholic Faith.

Catholicism teaches that God is not Unconditional Love. God is Love, but He also Hates, and Passionately Hates Evil, Sin, and Sinners. Yes, this is unpopular, but it is true: God hates sinners, as much as He hates Sin. God is Constitutionally incapable of standing Sinners. Yet He loves us and desires our Good, our Salvation, which we can achieve by co-operating with His Love and abandoning Sin.

God has given us this life in order to overcome temptation and to demonstrate to Him that we are worthy of eternal admission to His Company. Therefore, during this life, when we sin, although we become Hateful to Him, He does not cast us away entirely, but we still have the chance to remedy our unhappy situations in the Merits of His only begotten Son, His Passion and Cross, and to merit God's Company for Eternity. When we die, however, our time is up, and once we have finished the course of this life, we have no more opportunity to reform. Then, if we are found to be in His friendship, we shall be rewarded. And if in His Enemity, we shall be damned for eternity.

However, even though the Callanites originally belonged to this post-Catholic sect, it remains true that it is an organization with rules and an administration, and the need to harmonize so that the entire body as a whole is moving forward is step. Therefore, the disciplinary authorities of this sect are constrained to act against those who insist on rejecting the New Religion, and also against those who rend the unity of the whole by presumptuously running forward.

Callan, Ramerman, Cadena In the history of the Church, there have been a huge number of saints and exemplars who worked for the benefit of the downtrodden, the captives, even such famous names as the outstanding St. John Bush (Don Giovanni Bosco) of Milan, St. Camillus de Lellis and the Mercedarians or Ransomners, who even gave themselves over to the infidels as hostages in exchange for Christian captives, etc., etc. None of them had tried to use their work for the poor as a justification or smokescreen for evil, for immorality. But we know that when a man endorses and justifies immorality, such as Sodomism, or Feminism, then he is a worker of Satan, not of Christ!



The Antichurch's Diocese of Rochester assigned Jim Callan to a failing parish, the Corpus Christi in 1976, when attendance had fallen to some 200 active worshippers. Callan began to change the way Corpus Christi was run. He instituted "democracy" — popular government of the parish by the parishioners, and sold off the parish's investment portfolio (savings), distributed the monies, and began setting apart 10% of the collection for the poor. Under his leadership and guidance, parishioners also began outreaches, and what is more important, they joined the bandwagon of "pacifist" anti-war, anti-military and civil disobedience protests, agitations, etc.

Controversial though these were, the two most controversial steps Callan took were to accept sodomites as regular members of the community, and recognize their "marriages", and secondly, to involve women in the priestly function at the center of the church.

Callan was assisted by a "Fr." Enrique Cadena.

Callan invited a Californian feminist and women's "ordination" activist, Mrs. Mary Ramerman, to relocate to the East Coast, and named her a "pastoral associate." A latter addition to the ranks of "pastoral associates" was Mrs. Denise Denato.

It is important to know and bear in mind that Callan specifically invited, or rather imported Mrs. Ramerman from across the continent, from California, to come and join him at Corpus Christi.

Mathew ClarkIt is claimed that "conservatives" (who are not named) made complains about these un-orthodox changes to the diocesan bishop, Mathew Clark, who however supported or condoned Callan, and then further on to the Antichurch's General HQ, which ordered Clark to rein in Callan.

Under pressure, Clark reassigned Callan, and the new management at Corpus Christi attempted to revert practices to the standards, and when that failed, fired the recalcitrants, mainly Mrs. Ramerman, etc.

The recalcitrants then seceded to constitute themselves as an independent community, with Callan joining them, meeting in protestant assembly halls, and taking the name Spiritus Christi, as a variant of Corpus Christi, of which community they had been part.

Fr. Mary's ordination (sic!)Spiritus Christi went on to formally incorporate itself, claiming to be a Catholic community or parish, and solicited and received "ordinations" of Mrs. Ramerman, Mrs. Denato, etc.

It is interesting that while there are very numerous sites on the internet that present the version of Spiritus Christi, some put up by members of Spiritus Christi, others by propositional groups, such as "Womenpriests", etc., there are NO webpages presenting the version from the perspective of Mr. Mathew Clark, the Diocese of Rochestor or even by ordinary members of the parent body. (I found a page — apparently oppositional — by a Benedict Tang, but the links are non-functional. Other pages, by the Catholic Courier, too are non-functional.) That evidently supports Spriritus Christi's claim that Mr. Clark is propositional, favourbable.

I wrote to the offices of Mr. Clark, the Antichurch's Bishop of Rochester, to Mr. Michael Tedesco, Communications Director of the diocese, and to the operator of the website of the Corpus Christi parish, asking for their version of the events, but have received no reply.



I provide the link to Chava Redonnet's Spiritus Christi "history page" which is part of the official website, and would request that that page be read as being material to the topic of this article.

The Callanites make the claims, both implicitly and explicitly, that they, Callan, Cadena, Ramerman, etc., have been victimized and disciplined unjustly and therefore forced to constitute themselves as an independent body — temporarily — and that the parent body will eventually admit and permit its practices, and that, in the meantime, Spiritus Christi remains a faithful Catholic community.

Callan had been assigned to the parish in order to rejuvenate it. It was expected of him, that he would implement the reforms of 1958-1965, and evidently he did. However, just as much, it is evident that Callan stepped far beyond his own delegated and subsidiary authority to institute changes that had not yet been approved by his church.

It is evident that the sect to which Callan previously belonged is an integral body with its own government. This government seeks to achieve certain ends, wielding the whole together to attain those ends. And therefore, it is necessary for that sect to make adjustments to accomodate all, so that there is at least a modicum of harmony within the organization.

This requires that individual members and groups not exceed the authority delegated them, nor that they should presumptuously run ahead of the whole.

The Unity of the Church is one of the most important tenets of Christian belief, even in the sects.

And it is precisely that Callan bore nothing but contempt for this ideal, an attitude that would inescapably bring about a rupture in the unity of the whole.

In his PBS interview, Jim Callan said, "I'm not a revolutionary or firebrand. I'm a conservative Catholic priest for the most part. I do normal things." Really? Mr. Callan has unilaterally altered the dictionary meaning of "conservative", and he shouts down all those who take it up with him as fools. Indeed. Reminds one of another "gentleman" a few centuries ago who unilaterally amended the Holy Bible to add the word "Alone" - and when taken up on it, snapped back savagely, insisting on his own - and non-existent - authority to make that change!

James Callan Callan also told PBS: "Christ came for everybody. He (Christ) said, 'Nobody who comes to Me will I ever reject.'"

And where is THAT in the Bible? Is this some new, Gospel "according to St. James Callan" thing?

The controversy between Callan and the Antichurch mainly concerns the authorization of sodomism as a legitimate, althernative and normal lifestyle by the church and of the role of women in the liturgy. The Reforms of Roncalli and Vatican II went far in repudiating Catholicism's prohibition against both, and it is evident that the church that resulted out of these Reforms and the repudiation of Catholicism is gradually but certainly moving towards a full recognition of the legitimacy of sodomism and of women priests, etc.

However, Callan and Co. refused to wait for their church to arrive at these at its own pace, dictated by the interests of the larger church, and insisted on instituting these reforms without the formal leave of their church superiors.

It is evident to one and all that such unauthorized actions can only scandalize and demoralize members, and that no church whatsoever, whatever its particular position on Christian ideology, can tolerate or condone.

The Callanists claim that Mr. Clark condoned them, but his General HQ overruled him. That is within its authority.

When reprimanded for that, and commanded to cease these activities, the Callanists refused. When Callan was reassigned and Mrs. Ramerman dismissed for recalcitrance, the Callanists broke away and reconstituted themselves as an independent body.

Callanism's cute pretensions to have remained "Catholic" despite their departure into schism is as sincere as their other cute pretension that they are the victims, not the perpetrators, of this schism!

It is evident that Chava Redonnet's history is not accurate or honest.

It is evident that Callan intentionally cultivated and inculcated a particular mindset in the minds of his charges at Corpus Christi.

The acute silence of Mr. Matthew Clark, the Antichurch's bishop of Rochester, is telling. It is evident that Clark is in entire sympathy with Callan.

We can therefore conclude that Callanism was birthed by both Callan and Clark. Callan gestated and birthed it, but it is Clark who is its father.

Callan's inclusiveness is so broad that it cannot fit into the Church of Christ and it must necessarily break out into a rash of sects — manmade religions!

It is obvious that Callanism had its UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independence) long before 1998, but that Clark, who believes similarly, kept them within his sect as long as he could, throwing them out only when his HQ took him to task.



Michael Todesco, communications director for the diocese, said the breakaway community could no longer claim to be Catholic because it has "committed a schismatic act. Clearly three years ago, Spiritus Christi decided to disavow those bonds of communion. Therefore, they are no longer a Catholic church; they are therefore an independent faith community." According to Todesco, the diocese considers Ramerman to be a Protestant priest who was ordained by a Protestant bishop in a Protestant church.

Erin Hanley, communications director for the Women's Ordination Conference, said the diocese is wrong to label the Spiritus Christi parishioners Protestants.

"If you were to ask any Protestant: 'Are Old Catholics Protestant?' They would say absolutely not," Hanley said. "Mary was ordained by an Old Catholic bishop, but I believe that the way Spiritus Christi identifies [itself] is as a Christ centered Catholic community," she said. "They are living out the work of Jesus Christ, and if that doesn't work in with the institutional Church because they are inclusive of women, gays and lesbians, and the poor... then so be it."

Source: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Kairos_News/message/18
Erin Hanley is talking nonsense. Catholics do not look at sectarians from their (sectarians') perspectives, but from the Catholic and historical perspective. The claim that "Old Catholic" are not Prots is unhistorical and nonsensical. "Old Catholicism" was radically aided in coming into existence and in its ideas by Protestantism. They began as those who rebelled against the Vatican Council, 1870, favouring Freemasonry and Liberalism. They were cultivated, aided and abetted by the anti-Catholic and Protestant governments of Germany (Otto von Bismark), the Swiss Protestants and the Dutch Calvinists, among others. Without this vital aid and assistance, there would have been no "Old Catholicism".

Frs. Rumble & Carty, of the Radio Replies, therefore, correctly describe "Old Catholicism" as "New Protestantism."

It is important and crucial that "Old Catholicism" abandoned celibacy and other Catholic principles, over the opposition of its chief proponent, Ignatius von Dollinger, at the instigation of the Protestants. In matter of fact, they harmonized themselves with and entered into mutual inter-communion with all the major Protestant sects of the Continent.

Therefore, the pretension that "Old Catholicis" is NOT Protestant is a brazen and shameless lie.

The Catholic Church has always been inclusive of women, the poor and the underprivileged, without however allowing itself to be biased towards any one sector of society, being inclusive of all humanity. It has never been and never can be inclusive of heresy and immorality — necessarily it cannot be inclusive of Sodomism!

Sodomism is NOT acceptable to Christ Jesus, but is accursed by Him.

The Callanists name "Jesus Christ" as their "Pastor." The question arises, what is the basis of their claim that our Lord endorses or would have endorsed them? That is extremely improbable. Our Lord was not and is not tolerant towards Sodomism, and He is even less tolerant of an attitude of Schismatic disobedience, or insubordination!

The Callanists claim that Mrs. Ramerman and Mrs. Denato have been "ordained Catholic priests." But Catholicism is constitutionally incapable of "ordaining" women to the priesthood, and the Callanists' parent sect has also declared the same. What, then, is the basis of that claim? Why a "Catholic" priest, and not a Wiccan, Budhist, etc.?

One does not become a Catholic priest by purely and "sweetly" pretending to be one. And it is self-evident that the Callanists are constitutionally Schismatic, and thus a pretension to remain "Catholic" even after insubordination aggravated into Schism, is nothing but a gratuituous and insulting imposition, motivated by nothing more than contempt, upon true Catholics!

It is evident that Callanism was specifically bred and cultivated by Mr. Callan, and that he bears primary responsibility for this sect. It is evident that he had carefully nurtured and cultivated the sect, both before and after its schism, so that it would "naturally" tend towards those "Reforms" he favoured, rather than freely arrive at ideas by itself.

It is therefore evident that Callanism is nothing more than an imposition, and an imposition that rests upon nothing more than a complete contempt for and of those who believe otherwise — those who reject the demand for the legitimization of Sodomism and for "Women Priests"!

It is therefore evident that Callanism is nothing more than the demand by some, Callan and his disciples, to impose themselves on others who also call themselves Catholic, but who do not share their ideas, motivated by nothing more than the spirit of contempt and of despotism, despotic tyranny wishing to impose what they believe to be right upon one and all.

It is therefore evident that Callanism is nothing but yet another precursor of the Reign of the Antichrist!

And how breathtaking and sweeping is the arrogance, contempt and patronizing towards others, insolence and impertinence that the Callanists suffer from!

'Fr. Mary Ramerman' saying 'mass' (sic!)It is Mr. Callan whom we have to thank for the monstrousity of "Fr." Mary Ramerman and "Fr." Denise Denato! 'Fr.' Denise Denato (sic!)

The Callanists like to portray themselves as unwitting victims of the intolerance and inflexibility of their parent body as an institution, when in actual fact, it is evident that they had made preparations to go independent from long, that they had specifically imported Mrs. Mary Ramerman from California with the premediated intention of making her an "pastoral associate", and that it was fully aware of its actions and that these actions were insubordination of the larger church body and its government and would necessarily provoke expulsion.

Spiritus Christi's pretensions, therefore, to be merely an unoffensive and unobtrusive group lighted upon by the institutional authorities for no reason and thereby wounded and victimized is nothing but hypocrisy and dishonesty!

It is interesting that while Mrs. Ramerman and Mrs. Denato have been "ordained" priests, a former "nun", Margaret Henninger has still not been, and continues to style herself, "Sr." May I ask why the shyness, why this unaccountable coyness, this retinence towards "assuming" the priesthood as did her sisters? Is it because she has a recognizable trademark and goodwill as a "Sister" or "nun", and that she wishes to continue to capitalize on it, even when she has joined her co-conspirators in seceding from their parent sect?

It is evident that whereas Rebellion is considered, there is no difference between the actions of the Callanists and the actions of the founding fathers of the Antichurch. Both were rebels, insubordinates.

And both are dishonest and insist on imposing themselves on others, on Catholics by the Antichurch, and on members of the Antichurch by the Callanists.

I have never been able to fathom the purpose of these impositions. Why not openly commence your own new religion? You can always invent a new religion according to your own lights. Leave Catholicism to those who believe in it.

But these people are not honest, sincere. They are robbers, confidence tricksters. They live to defraud others, to seduce people from their belief, to be destructive.

They have no other purpose than to destroy others, to destroy the work of others. They are perfectly incapable of creating something of their own. They lie when they claim to be following the Spirit of Christ. Theirs is NOT the Spirit of Christ. Theirs is evidently the Spirit of the Deceiver, the Father of Lies, the Father of Heresies. Truly are they the sons and daughters and the servants of Satan!



Why should I, who live on the other side of the globe, take an interest in these happenings, and even take offense at Callanism's pretensions?

It is evident that Callanism is not a phenomenon aimed purely at a local audience in New England or in Anglo-America, but aims, as a movement, to impose its ideas on worldwide Christianity. In itself, Callanism is part of a worldwide movement. And again, the issue at heart is Christianity and Christian ideology, not some purely local issue, and so the issue has global ramifications.

To the Callanites and to the Roman Modernists and to the Anglicans and to the Old-Catholics and to all the other sects that say, "Our church is Catholic", or "Our church is the Catholic Church", I reply, "Catholicism is Exclusive, a definite ideology, not an elastic, indeterminate emotional bond." And so I say, "If you are Catholic, I am NOT! And if I am Catholic, you are NOT!"



©Prakash John Mascarenhas, Bombay. This page is copyright. See also page of reference links.
9th August 2003. Revised 11th August 2003.
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