Worthy

I DID take note of the last two "rejoinders" issued by the FFL in its blog here and here, but i really felt that there was no more need to respond to it. The council led the way by giving a succinct explanation of the Pfizer issue, and keeping it to that without bringing up any of the FFL's shortcomings, quite contrary to the FFL's unChristian war agenda. I didn't see a reason to keep responding to their constant rejoinders, back scrambling, and hand-washing, as it was prone to deteriorate to a "you did this, you did that" type of exchange.

The one glaring fact of the matter is, while they continue to beat on and obfuscate a tired old subject that has already been effectively "rejoined" (to borrow a term) here, here, and with a silver bullet here, the FFL has not made one single legitimate excuse for why they themselves are almost inextricably attached to an outspoken anti-life politician.

I haven't even brought up their incredibly unChristian behavior...

...or, asked Frank what he did as the self-proclaimed LEADER and founder of CfC to prevent the partnership of GK with supposed anti-life companies, after all, the buck stops with the guy at the top, right?

Until then, all these rejoinders from the FFL become...white noise, you know, that hissing, non-sensical, staticky sound that emits from TV's with no antennas?


Here are a couple of comments posted that you shouldn't miss. I'll repost them in full because they are very worthy of a cut-and-paste.

Here's one taken from the Peace entry:

Dear Brothers & Sisters In CFC and FFL,

First of all, I would like to greet Bro. Frank Padilla a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY last Oct. 4, 2007. May our Lord Jesus continue to give him strength and blessings to truly serve Him and Him alone.

Second of all, it has been awhile since I last replied to Bro. Frank's answers to my list of 21 questions. Unfortunately until now, Bro. Frank still has not responded and it is very unlikely that he ever will, although I am still hoping that he would. I have seen my reply being posted at a RestoreCFC blogsite but after a while it got deleted. Someone re-posted it and it got deleted again, which made many bloggers wonder, is FFL really after truth and fairness, or is FFL hiding the truth at the expense of fairness?

Finally, in response to Bro. Frank's "The Way Forward # 4" document, instead of broadcasting an email to everyone, I e-mailed him directly because he had always complained why people do not just email him directly. I just had to express my DISAPPOINTMENT directly to Bro. Frank because I COULD NOT EVER BELIEVE that the man all of us have held in VERY HIGH REGARD, could be capable of such VERY CLEAR DECEPTIONS which he does WITH SUCH BLATANCY, as if sure of himself that people will not be able to spot them.

You see my dear brothers and sisters, especially those in FFL, there is simply NO TRUTH in what he has been spreading in all the Restoration Assemblies and other places that he has recently been to. I asked Bro. Frank for clarifications but it seems he was NOT INTERESTED anymore in giving any. I am therefore turning over these issues to ANY of his followers hoping that they might be able to shed light on his actions and of FFL in general.

These are the issues that Bro. Frank REFUSES to address:

He continues to accuse CFC of "VEERING AWAY" yet he was also a part (even the head) of that veering away. In fact in 2005, he approved the partnership of Gawad Kalusugan with Pfizer, a company he now accuses to be producing anti-life products. He still continues to INSIST that he ALONE (together with his FFL supporters) can restore CFC to its true charism. Isn't this ARROGANCE? He ignores the fact that CFC is now actively correcting whatever needs to be corrected in order to put us all right back on track. He shot down IC's invitation to stay and work with them and to keep the community united by not leaving and forming FFL. He continues to ignore the pleas of thousands begging him NOT to keep dividing the community since there is NO MORAL REASON to do so.

He continues to accuse all of CFC and all of GK of veering away when this is not widespread but only in isolated cases and is currently being corrected. If I may ask my FFL brothers and sisters here in Manitoba, what is there to restore here? How about in other places? Can you honestly say that there is anything to restore?

He continues to accuse CFC and GK of veering away by partnering with anti-life corporations yet his very own household member and benefactor, Senate President Manny and Rep. Cynthia Villar, are openly pro-choice. Isn't this HYPOCRISY? WHO IS VEERING AWAY NOW?

He continues to accuse CFC of conducting a "WITCH HUNT" against Bro. Lachie Agana, even though this is merely an administrative and pastoral function that CFC is performing. This is NOT wrongdoing . They are in fact the ones investigating if Bro. Lachie Agana is guilty of any wrongdoing. And besides, these delicate matters should remain only at the level of the IC yet Bro. Frank is spreading this around. Why? What for? Wherever Sis. Gerry Padilla goes, she is also bringing up the issue of the alleged inappropriate relationship ("love affair") of Bro. Lachie Agana and Sis. Maribel Descallar. Isn't this what we would normally call as "tsismis" which in itself is a wrongdoing?

He continues to accuse CFC of "DISOBEDIENCE" to the Bishops yet the Bishops have already made it known to everyone that this is NOT the case and has even forgiven the IC for whatever hurt that has been caused.
He continues to spread the lie that there was an agreement to postpone the elections when in fact that agreement was still up for the CFC Elders Assembly's approval and ratification.

He continues to HIDE the fact that his actions places him ABOVE the authority of the CFC Elders Assembly, by his refusal to accept the mandate the EA have validly given to the present IC. He even recognized the validity of the election and congratulated the elected IC, yet later he did not accept the results. Why?

He continues to HIDE the fact that his actions places him ABOVE the authority of the Bishops, by his arrogant demand for the IC to resign or else he would pursue division, yet the Bishops have not made any such demands.

He continues to HIDE the fact that his actions places him ABOVE God Himself, because he has not followed the example of the Bishops (who speaks for God) in giving a chance to the present IC to prove themselves.

He continues to spread the lie that the IC has defied the Bishops yet it is him who defied the CFC Elders Assembly (by not following the mandate they gave the IC) and the Bishops (by not following their example of supporting CFC in its restoration efforts).

He continues to claim he and his FFL followers are still CFC when they do NOT even subject themselves to the highest authority in CFC which is the CFC Elders Assembly. Can anyone tell us if the CFC Elders Assembly veered away too?

He continues to claim he and his FFL followers are still CFC when they do NOT even adhere to the CFC Statutes and by-laws that Bro. Frank himself has helped formulate. These are the same statutes that are now registered in the Vatican. FFL has no statutes of its own and is in no position to claim the CFC statutes as theirs since they don't adhere to it anyway. FFL has still to formulate its own statutes and has still to be recognized by the both the Vatican and CBCP.

He continues to HIDE the fact that he used to warn everyone that CFC might lose recognition which really alarmed a lot of the brethren (including me), some of whom readily affiliated themselves with FFL. But it turns out that FFL is the one that doesn't have any recognition from both the Vatican and the CBCP.

He continues to confuse everyone by inventing terms such as CFC-GK and CFC-FFL when there is only one CFC and his group is simply known as FFL.

He claims he has updated Archbp. Rylko about the crisis in the community, yet he has not confirmed if he had informed Archbp. Rylko that he is no longer the head of CFC, and as such, he should not be representing CFC anymore.

He continues to proclaim he is a man for God, but where is his patience, tolerance and forgiveness for the IC who not so long ago were also his close friends and his dear brothers in Christ?

He continues to proclaim he is a man for God, but where is the man who wrote "We may give our own opinion, argue forcefully about our position, raise questions for clarification, but at the end of the day, we must be willing to accede to the decision of those over us, especially if that decision is not a matter of wrongdoing?" By his actuations, this clearly shows that Bro. Frank thinks he is above the authority of the CFC Elders Assembly. Isn't this ARROGANCE?

He continues to proclaim he is a man for God, but where is the man who told a couple contemplating of leaving the community "That's part of our life together but there really is no reason to leave the community, never. No reason at all?"

He continues to proclaim he is a man for God, yet he has become the very FULFILLMENT of the vivid and clear warnings he has been giving in his books, in his articles and in his talks, about elders who will be used by Satan to sow conflict and division, that will eventually lead to the break-up of our beloved community.

He continues to use his God-given talents and whatever gifts of the Holy Spirit he has received, to destroy (instead of build up) the spiritual body of CFC by these lies he continues to spread around and his continuous acts of sowing hatred and mistrust.

As long as these issues are NOT clarified, the only truth that Bro. Frank and the FFL has (which they are hiding) is this: THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR DIVIDING CFC AND CREATING FFL . Is this why Bro. Frank continues to peddle these LIES? Is he doing this because if he doesn't, NO ONE will follow him? Is it fair to say that those who still continue to follow him in spite of all the reasons above not to, are merely doing so, out of BLIND LOYALTY & BLIND OBEDIENCE to the "man of God" and to the "prophet of our times" that they believe he is?

I've been getting some emails mostly from FFL members asking me to stop "fueling" the fire, respect their decision and instead move on and move forward. All I can say is CFC respects their decision , CFC is moving on and CFC is moving forward. However, part of its moving forward is to defend itself from the LIES that Bro. Frank is peddling. As for Bro. Frank and the FFL, how can they say that they are moving forward when all they have done is to attack CFC wherever they go and in whatever they do. This is actually expected and understandable since, in order to justify its very existence, they have NO CHOICE, but to ALWAYS, ALWAYS put CFC in a bad light. It is NO DIFFERENT from the Born-Again Protestants or the Iglesia Ni Cristo churches spreading lies about the Roman Catholic Church, in order to get converts.

THIS IS JUST SO BACKWARDS!

Which makes one wonder: Are the CFC members who they say moved to FFL without being coerced really aware of the issues above? Or is FFL PURPOSELY HIDING the above issues, as proven by their deletion of critical entries in the RestoreCFC blogsite?

I have also been accused by one FFL brother that I am helping to burn the bridge of possible future reconciliation. On the contrary, the issues above are the building blocks of this bridge because these should make both CFC and FFL brethren realize whether they are on the wrong side of the bridge or on the right side of the bridge. And if one should realize that he or she is on the wrong side of the bridge, one can always cross to other side with a new and final conviction.

In closing, Bro. Frank speaks of FFL as a sheepfold, I therefore humbly request of him, that I and many of us who decided to stay in CFC be considered as "lost sheep" that badly needs to be "found" and be counted among the sheepfold of FFL. Considering the above issues, please enlighten and convince us that FFL is indeed the right place for us to be. And for those already in FFL, in light of the above issues that Bro. Frank refuses to address, in light of the fact that you know who the father of lies is, and in light of the fact that you know Who is The Way, The TRUTH and The Life, ask yourselves the question: Is FFL really where you want to be and why?

May God bless us all.

In Christ,
Fortes In Fide

"Couples for Christ is about our very life. And because this is about our very life, let's participate in protecting it, in defending it , in building it up, in giving our all. This is our life. This is our destiny. This is our future and the future of our children and their children's children." - Frank Padilla

And another brought to my attention in the Peace entry but taken from the fulfillingthemandate.org site:

We, in CFC, Love and Forgive

October 3, 2007
My Journey In Search of the Truth
“WE, IN CFC, LOVE AND FORGIVE”

“When information which properly belongs to the public is systematically withheld by those in power, the people soon become ignorant of their own affairs, distrustful of those who manage them, and 'eventually' incapable of determining their own destinies." (Richard Nixon)

Mothers would usually seal their lips to maintain peace in the family. Then there are those who would rather give the other cheek and chose silence in the name of love and forgiveness. In both cases, there is accountability.

I chose to use the quotation above instead of verses from the Bible because it reflects the difficulties I personally experienced in my search for the truth. Those in power withheld information upfront so I went beyond visiting two WebPages, as instructed, to “search” for the truth. I even joined in teleconferencing to hear confirmation of answers to my questions. I gave myself many chances to change my mind and I entertained the possibility of joining the other side. I found the other side copying everything in CFC, so I asked myself … why separate … why go away.

Two months ago, I was requested to write an article about love and forgiving with further instructions to email the article to our Manila Elders. In obedience to my superior’s request and through the Holy Spirit I was able to share the lessons I learned from CFC on loving and forgiving within half an hour, after I received the email request to write. I did email a copy to our Manila Elders through the webpage: fulfillingthemandate.org. I also sent a copy to the other side’s webpage CFCUnited.com. It was published at fulfillingthemandate.org. I did not get courtesy of a reply from the webmaster of the later webpage.

I was an avid follower and admirer of Frank Padilla. I also have great respect for Tony Meloto. For a long time I truly believed our work in CFC and its child GK are anointed. Then shock of all shocks, they resigned and I felt like I was in a big bubble that burst and down and down my hopes disintegrated. Everyone seems to be scrambling and in the midst of this chaos we were asked to choose. I know now that God called me to focus on Him and not on those two leaders.

In retrospect, I was angry because I was not allowed to share the information I have on both sides upfront when the crisis started. Again, in obedience, I humbled myself and I followed directives in blocking communication. In my frustrations, I even saw this crisis as an opportunity to let go and leave CFC because I do not want to inflict pain on my fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus name.

I was angry because we in GK never denied we are CFC; we even say “without CFC, there is no success in GK”. We did not veer away from the vision and mission of CFC. What might have happened in Manila is not true in the United States and other parts of the world. To extrapolate is to judge and that privilege is exclusive to God alone. It is not for any of us to pass judgment by portraying isolated cases as standard practices of CFC workers on the ground doing GK.

So, who is this brother who professed to be a Christian yet did not walk the talk of loving and forgiving?

Who is this brother who just walked nonchalantly in the midst of peace we have in our brotherhood and sisterhood in the United States and boldly asked us to choose yet denied divisive actions?

Who is this brother who without compunction did not even consider to look beyond his personal agenda and reflected on future results of his actions … that relationship will be broken, families and friends would be saying goodbye and all because he hardened his heart and did not forgive, yet with vengeance, proclaimed his actions to be what God intended for us?

The truth is: while the Bishops forgave the International Council, the other side did not. This brother put aside love and with relentless passion himself “defied” the Bishops, came to the United States (international not “diocesan”) and created havoc of misinformation that caused many tears and pain brought about by disunity in the families and placed friendships as the basis of choice. I want to scream, I want to confront, yet the Lord called me to look through the eyes of Jesus and that’s when I realized that in CFC we give love, we give support, we humble ourselves to reflect on the sufferings of Jesus on the cross in our daily life. We in CFC forgive.

I received many negative emails yet there was something so transparent in that the International Council was quiet and Tony Meloto was quiet, as well. If I could have hammered them, I would have done so. They should defend CFC that we love. Then I realized that they are walking the talk of our faith: they have been giving their other cheek while the other side was relentless in their campaign/propaganda of misinformation; which up to this writing is still going on.

YES, the other side said they have the same programs like we do including GK, etc. And our brothers and sisters get confused by the seconds as they went back and forth vacillating with their choice. It is obvious that their focus was taken away from God and instead now the focus is on the past GK issues that were all discussed during the past Global Pastoral Congress. True to its commitments, the International Council called for a Global Pastoral Congress to address the complaints of the other side. It was a positive action in moving on; yet, the other side chose to get tucked in the past.

I do not want to entertain the notion of having a modern-day Hitler in our midst in terms of systematic brainwashing -- touching the Achilles hills of our brothers and sisters right where it matters.

What made me decide to stay in and with CFC is so simple as to say: I also chose to walk the talk of loving and forgiving. And, as the song says, “My sufferings are my offerings; my offerings are my sufferings” to Jesus Christ on the cross.

I chose to align my loyalty to “one” God and not to a person. I believe as many believe that no one else owns CFC but God. The other side could, as they continue to do so, say whatever they want to say. This is alright; after all, the burden of proof is on the other side’s shoulders. We in CFC must not worry; God is enough!

CFC is anointed because it is fulfilling the mandate to bring glad tidings to poor via our work in GK.

The other side did not walk the talk of loving and forgiving. We, in CFC, love and forgive! Praise God!

Jesus, I trust in You!

Ligaya Olivera Kraemer
CFC Member, GKOM, Missouri, USA
October 1, 2007
Ligaya Olivera Kraemer

Now when I think of last words...I think of these.