Thursday, April 17, 2008

ADmonishing

UPDATED AT THE BOTTOM! [4/18/2008]

Is it just me or does the latest article about CFC on ABS-CBN look more like an advertisement for the FFL than an actual journalistic piece?

Once again, the FFL makes clever and twisted use of context to attempt to sway the court of public opinion in their favor. Little do they know they are hurting themselves as much as they think they are hurting CFC. Such a nice act by a supposedly religious organization, eh? Also, this poor excuse for a reporter Carmela Fonbuena needs a few protest emails sent her way. She has supposedly written a non-biased article, without consulting with all parties relevant to the piece.

My dear, you have some explaining to do, like for starters:

In your irresponsible rush to come out with your "scoop", did you bother to check your facts and sources?

But I'm not suprised, I would have thought the FFL would find a better mouthpiece than someone who declares , "I turn gossips into information" on her Myspace site.

Anyway, what's the whole brouhaha about? It sure has gotten us stirred up, hasn't it? Lets look past the headline first, after all, it was concocted by someone who seems to have a thing for using a sensational headline to sell a story or hide its lack of substance/truthful content. She's also going to have to learn the meaning of chastise as opposed to admonish, it just might help her journalistic credibility.

Let's pick this story apart at the seams, why don't we?

"The Vatican has chastised the Couples for Christ (CFC) group supportive of Gawad Kalinga founder Antonio Meloto for the "erroneous steps [it has] taken" when it decided to shift its focus from the spiritual to the social. The group was instructed to make a public apology."
What's sad is that it is painfully obvious that all the information being fed to this hapless reporter is coming from one place. The Vatican has NEVER chastised CFC, only one person keeps on doing that and though he may have designs on a saintly position someday (good luck brother), he sure doesn't work for the Vatican.

Also, only the FFL will use such wording as, "...decided to shift its focus from the spiritual..." Tell me again, WHO decided? Was it an official decision? Did the IC release a statement we didn't know about? Sheesh, you guys, this is getting old.
"The Vatican disapproved of CFC’s "overemphasis on the social work"
Ok, I'm assuming they snatched this quote from a line in the next paragraph which goes,
"...said that CFC should "counterbalance the overemphasis on social work...."
How they can squeeze "disapproved" from this statement, I don't know, but I would call it a fair amount of overzealous misinterpretation, which they do quite a lot. I'm trying to be politically correct, but the actual thought in my head is telling me to request that they take remedial english courses.

The article goes on to describe a series of letters, four to be exact, that were supposedly obtained by ABS-CBN (I wonder from who? Hmm. It sure wasn't from the IC, and the FFL is obviously not copy-furnished in these communiques.). It also details a phone interview with Tony Meloto, though I'd wonder why they would try to interview him as he hasn't been a part of the CFC-IC for a year.

Oh let me guess, interviewing one of the IC might let the cat out of the bag?

First off, YES, Bro Joe Tale DID go to the Vatican. Every local area head should know about this. He went there to get a clear picture of what CFC should be doing to comply with Vatican directives on dealing with agencies that promote artificial family control, among others. It is also true that Cardinal Rylko wrote a letter to the IC, defining what should be done by CFC to comply with The Vatican's directives. The letter was a re-iteration of what was discussed during Joe Tale's visit.

What they conveniently forgot to quote in Cardinal Rylko's letter is the part where he said that he recognizes one CFC only and will not allow others to use the name.

Why do I know this? Well, the letter was read to the area heads and leaders last Sunday, that's why. The IC has also started taking the steps outlined in the Cardinal's letter, the first of which was this full page ad in the Philippine Star placed almost 2 weeks ago:

Free Image Hosting at www.ImageShack.us
click to enlarge

Why are we doing this? The answer is evident. Obviously we are not thumbing our collective noses at the authorities. The IC recognizes that some actions it has unknowingly taken may have not been in line with Vatican policy. They've asked for clarity and forgiveness, and are taking the necessary steps to correct it, hence the Cardinal's letter and it's instructions. Isn't that what a good person who's made a "mistake" should be doing? It's just sad that the FFL jumped on it with glee, thinking they can use it to fuel their fizzling attempt to lay claim to the CFC name and snipe its members. That letter should now be released by the IC, and if I may humbly suggest, an official letter to ABS-CBN to protest and demand a retraction/correction for the very misleading and obviously biased article.

At least one good thing has come out of this.
"Reyes has sided with the breakaway group of Padilla."
Why good, one might wonder? Well, it's one TRUTH that has come out in the open, proving once again that God works in mysterious ways. All this time he has acted as our official spiritual adviser. I'd now like to pose the question directly to the good Bishop, respectfully of course: Where does your heart belong?

Quo Vadis, Pontifex?

Is it true that you were asked to appoint another adviser for CFC considering your loyalties, but you refused, saying you will NEVER resign as the CFC's spiritual adviser? I am in no position to question your judgement dear Bishop, but how can you possibly remain an impartial party to both groups after such a public announcement of your loyalties?

Wouldn't that be a case of the shephard neglecting his flock?

In closing I'd just like to share something I got in my email. I was not able to get permission to reprint it, so if the author would prefer not to have it on the blog, please let me know and I'll remove it.
Re: GK enough or more....Are We a Church of the Poor?

Thank you, Dody, for your sharing. At this stage of our lives, we may be repositories of vast experiences and, hopefully, wisdom. This wisdom and the concern we have for mankind and the ensuing generations are the greatest gifts we can offer.

As I write this, media has already reported what was a private situation deliberately made public by some who wish to taint and destroy GK. It is the work of wolves in sheep's clothing, reminiscent of the high priests and pharisees who sought to destroy the truth and perpetuate their governance of hypocrisy. The news say that the Vatican has admonished Couples For Christ over Gawad Kalinga. Through Cardinal Rylko, triggered by Bishop Gabby Reyes, an instruction was given to CFC to publicly apologize for the sacndal caused over GK's partnership with a pharmaceutical company - and then terminate the concerned partnership.

There was an effort to keep the situation between those directly involved. Unfortunately, letters between Cardinal Rylko, Bishop Reyes and the CFC Council were leaked to media in a continuing efrfort to discredit both the leadership of CFC and the work of GK. The damage, contrary to what enemies of CFC or GK may think, is less on the CFC community or GK. CFC is a renewal community; adversity and trials are part and parcel of the spiritual journey of members. CFC may be shaken, but it will stand and then move on. The 26-year history of CFC was wisely guided to be autonomous of the Church in its operations. Frank Padilla who led CFC to pursue its mission with or without the approval and support of bishops and parish priests is the one now trying to force CFC to be under the full ambit and governance of the Church beyond matters of faith and dogma. It is too late, though, as most members are fully confident that they are not only good Christians but, through the mission of their community, go beyond the usual behavior of average Catholics.

The greater and more dangerous damage will be felt by the Church as an institution and its influence over the flock. The conflicting messages and actuation of the Church hierarchy among themselves and oftentimes in full viedw of the public contribute to the lessening of the credibility of this same hierarchy. Worse, the participation or intrusion of the Vatican in a controversy which it should keep away from can lessen its own credibility from the high point where the late charismatic Pope John Paul II had brought it. The Vatican should review history and how it lost its dominant primacy over Europe, and how Catholics in Brazil and trhe Philippines, two of the most populous nations contributing tens of millions of faithful to the global Catholic population, experience a constant losss of members to other faiths.

What is heartening, though, is the present trip of Pope benedict XVI to the United States. The US is one of the leading anti life nations of the world by definition of the Church of what anti life is. The US is host to almost everything anti life like abortion, divorce, contraception and aggressive global promotion of condoms and other contraceptives for population control . The Pope eagerly prepared for his US trip, and rightly so. Before global audiences, the Pope basked in the welcome of the leading anti life preseident of the world who has aggressively waged wars which the Church has declared anti life over and over again.

It is apparent and enlightening that the Pope chooses engagement over condemnation, that the Pope chooses evangelization over Inquisition and fundamentalism. The Pope has not ceded his crusade against anti life issues, but he is not afraid that his faith will be threatened by engaging those who believe otherwise. I am convinced that the Pope also believes that his witnessing the love of Christ to all people, and most especially to the lost and to the poor, is primordial and clearly superior to religious bigotry and fundamentalism.

Thank you, Dody, for strengthening my resolve for the mission I have embraced.

Boy


UPDATE: The IC response, and I have to say...THANK YOU. I believe I'm not alone when I say that I love the pro-active IC!

Dear brethren:

We view with concern reports that the brethren are being unduly disturbed by the article that appeared in ABS-CBN News Online on April 15, 2008 entitled "Vatican Admonishes Couples for Christ Over Gawad Kalinga."

We would like to inform you of the following actions that the International Council has taken in this connection:

1. We have brought to the attention of ABS-CBN News Online the fact that the article quotes out of context portions of the letter that Cardinal Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council of the Laity of the Vatican, wrote to Executive Director Joe Tale last March 11, 2008. Please see attached.
2. We have also written to the Cardinal apprising him of this article and seeking his guidance on how to address the confusion that has arisen because of this article.
3. We shall issue statements in the future as it becomes necessary.

In the meantime, we would like to assure you of one important thing: NOWHERE IN THE LETTER OF THE CARDINAL IS IT EXPRESSED THAT THE VATICAN HAS SIDED WITH THE GROUP OF FRANK PADILLA.

This is still part of the trials that the Lord has seen fit to allow us to undergo as a test of our humility and obedience. We ask everyone to pray for the community that we love so much and to continue to relate to everyone in love. We remind everyone that the Lord's message for each and every one of us is "Love one another as I have loved you."

May God bless us all.


THE CFC INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL

Here's the official response to ABS:

Download HERE.

Thank you again IC. For you I dedicate this song:

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

T2s, nagulat nga po ako talaga, ksi as far as I know, the statement that would be released is about teh Vatican telling the FFL to come back to CFC, because they can't use its name!

This is an FFL propaganda nnman po! Back to the "old" accusations ulilt eh! The credibility of this station is at risk, if they want to continue in having a good reputation, they must make a public apology...Tahimik na ang lahat ng biglang! Haiiz

Anonymous said...

dear cd,

whew, how glad am i we have you on our side... or rather on God's side.

anytime now, the IC will have that letter of protest sent to ABS-CBN (if they have not done yet). this un-journalistic exercise require such response.

i really hope bp. gaby will be man enough to make his inclination placed on concrete monument now and relieve himself from being the spiritual director of CFC and focus simply as FFL's. CFC will be grateful with whomever the CBCP will name as his replacement.

Godbless!

Anonymous said...

Wow! Blame the reporter; broadcast her blog for people to protest! Blame the bishop and replace him! Blame the Vatican cardinal!

Oh my! Are you the group that has ‘Love one another as I love you’ as their theme this year? Are you the Couples that is For what again?

Who are you?!

Anonymous said...

Check Out their website, galing naman magpa-picture nina Biboy parang close kay pope, pinapalabas nyo bang malakas kayo sa Papa? Nice try, obvious na Photo Op lang. I wonder why he gave that book to the pope and not "friend or foe"....sipsip talaga.

Mike Santos said...

heto na! heto na! heto na!
aaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!

get ready to love....

Anonymous said...

Date: Thursday, April 17, 2008, 10:57 PM

Dear brethren:

We view with concern reports that the brethren are being unduly disturbed by the article that appeared in ABS-CBN News Online on April 15, 2008 entitled "Vatican Admonishes Couples for Christ Over Gawad Kalinga."

We would like to inform you of the following actions that the International Council has taken in this connection:

1. We have brought to the attention of ABS-CBN News Online the fact that the article quotes out of context portions of the letter that Cardinal Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council of the Laity of the Vatican, wrote to Executive Director Joe Tale last March 11, 2008. Please see attached.
2. We have also written to the Cardinal apprising him of this article and seeking his guidance on how to address the confusion that has arisen because of this article.
3. We shall issue statements in the future as it becomes necessary.

In the meantime, we would like to assure you of one important thing: NOWHERE IN THE LETTER OF THE CARDINAL IS IT EXPRESSED THAT THE VATICAN HAS SIDED WITH THE GROUP OF FRANK PADILLA.

This is still part of the trials that the Lord has seen fit to allow us to undergo as a test of our humility and obedience. We ask everyone to pray for the community that we love so much and to continue to relate to everyone in love. We remind everyone that the Lord's message for each and every one of us is "Love one another as I have loved you."

May God bless us all.


THE CFC INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL


--
CFC UGNAYAN MULTIMEDIA CENTER
COUPLES FOR CHRIST

Anonymous said...

I've already emailed ABSCBN feedback as soon as I read this email. Other members who came across this will also email their feedback.

Gee, talk about mediocrity in journalism!

Anonymous said...

anonymous said,
Wow! Blame the reporter;

NO! Not blame, but praise her, though, for being the mouthpiece of FFL.

Anonymous said,
Oh my! Are you the group that has ‘Love one another as I love you’ as their theme this year?

YES this is the group that the reporter has just sweepingly put to bad light. The group that is commanded to love reporters like this.

Are you the Couples that is For what again?
YES the same CFC that must love one another including the easter group that obviously put out a thread like this.

Yes this is the CFC that has to follow what the good Vatican Cardinal says, to apologize for scandals that members did not cause. To say sorry for something members did not do. To contribute to OTBT to pay debts incurred by leaders who are now in FFL. Who has to love and embrace a bishop whose heart beats for the members of another community.

As the famous APO song goes, tawanan mo ang yong problema- so here goes-

Hahahaha I love you FFL , yes you- who are you!!!

Anonymous said...

Hello CD:
Can you post the Vatican Letter so we can all read what the context.
Thank you,

A

TruthShallSetYouFree said...

to anonymous who said
Who are you?!

Stop it! And quit fooling around!
Correction is being made.

Loving is also giving correction!

Anonymous said...

Yes, this is tabloid style journalism. I've read some of the articles of this journalist and she seems smart. One has to wonder though why in this case, there was no journalistic standard of hearing what the other side has to say. At least there should have been an attempt to discover if the facts are indeed true or not. It's also possible that she did not really write it herself but was only copy-pasted verbatim from maybe an FFL confidant.

Despite this, this is still freedom of expression and I will protect it. I hope the CFC International Council has a response to ABS-CBN. And for the sake of fairness, ABS-CBN should also publish such response. If not, then you can conclude that there is bias on the part of ABS-CBN which I wouldn't really be surprised since there really is no legal obligation for them to do so (at which point, the only recourse is public outrage at a news organization beholden with presumptuous fairness).

Anyway, we should give benefit of the doubt to Bishop Reyes. We don't know if the reporter is accurate in portraying him as siding with FFL (and nothing whatsoever with CFC). I'm hoping though that Bishop Reyes would be more forthcoming in his stand of whether he can still be dependable as Spiritual Director of CFC. If what the reporter said of Bishop Reyes is not true, she should apologize to Bishop Reyes for mis-representing him.

I am a Catholic first and CFC second. However, through CFC, I have become a better Catholic. Over the years, there's a lot of things that to my mind questionable about the Catholic leadership (handing or alleged cover-up of sex abuse cases, political maneuvering, the handling of Fr Fernando Suarez by the bishops of Pangasinan and Bulacan, denial of venue by local priests, etc). However, these things are mostly perceptions by me as a human being incapable of understanding everything. Or they could be genuine mistakes by some of the clergy since they are human beings too, subject to sin and temptation like all of us. I am not expecting perfection from my Church so I will always be supportive of the Catholic church but I will use the leading of the Holy Spirit for my own personal decisions or discernment of whether what some clergy says is true or not.

Anonymous said...

Haiizz, again I am Humbled by the Council's decision. Truly, the council has reminded us to love this reporter in despite of the mis information.

ANyways, in loving there is also correction, there can be no true love without correction

Anonymous said...

Okay, I have seen IC’s official statement regarding the report and their letter to ABS-CBN.

That’s good; everybody here is content with that except for one. But what’s missing? Ah yeah, the letter of the cardinal to Joe Tale.

You have already called the report as misinformation and the reporter as mouthpiece of FFL but still haven’t read the letter.

Okay, maybe IC has already posted it but I just missed… I will keep on searching -:).

Anonymous said...

Haha CD, love the song!

Kudos to the IC for temperance and meekness.

Anonymous said...

Hello Brothers & Sisters! Kahit ano pa ang gawin ni Frank and his sidekicks hindi na maibalik sa kanya ang CFC na kanyang ninakaw sa LnP..

Good work IC...yan ang lider mapakumbaba..

Anonymous said...

Why does FFL continue to tempt me to sin? Lord, I really want to love my brothers and sisters. But they're making it insanely difficult for me to do so! Arrgh... I am really controlling myself from saying negative things about them...

Anonymous said...

It is really sad that even the media are now part of this argument. Someone should realize from CFC & FFL that this kind of damage would penetrate their bone hardly.
And in-case the aired information by ABS CBN was given by FFL sides for their propaganda, I guess it is not really smart move because they will be affected also in future. As all of you know the media will do everything to sell their news, and they will not stop doing this. In USA and other part of this earth, to stop them is to bring them to court for giving false news. Anyway this is another lesson for CFC as the Lord say
Fight the good fight of faith (2 Tim. 4:7-8; Jude 1:3) people of God, don’t just stand. The Evil is really trying very hard to bring you down.

Anonymous said...

Hi I think it would also be fair to all CFC members if somebody could publish the 4 letters before any comments can be made. Anyway we are all seeking the truth behind this. Can we see these letters? Thanks and God Bless to all.

-truth seeker

Athrun Atreides said...

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080418-131127/Vatican-corrects-Couples-for-Christs-GK-focus

Vatican ‘corrects’ Couples for Christ’s ‘GK’ focus

By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 05:38:00 04/18/2008

MANILA, Philippines—The Vatican merely intended to guide and correct Gawad Kalinga’s “overemphasis on social work” when it sent a letter to Couples for Christ (CFC) chiding it for its “erroneous steps,” according to an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes, chair of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity, Thursday told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that the Vatican had the authority and duty to remind and guide lay groups.

He said he did not think that the letter from the Vatican referring to Gawad Kalinga—a social action group that was founded by the CFC and which has become hugely successful in building homes for the poor—was an admonition.

“It is more of a guidance, a correction. It is merely correcting the overemphasis on social work. It is correcting receiving funds from pharmaceutical companies [who support or manufacture contraceptives]. It is saying, stop acting like that,” he said.

The bishop was asked to comment on a report on the ABS-CBN website that said the CFC had been chastised by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Laity in a March 11 letter to the CFC president, Jose Tale.

In that letter, the Vatican noted Gawad Kalinga’s purported shift of focus from the spiritual to the social, as well as its willingness to receive donations from companies that promoted artificial family planning.

Giving ‘too little’

According to Reyes, the letter carried a quote from Pope Benedict XVI that said: “Whoever does not give God, gives too little.”

“That’s before the part where it says CFC should counterbalance the overemphasis on social work,” the bishop said, adding:

“Overemphasis on social work is not good when you are already neglecting your relationship with Christ.”

Reyes further said the CFC had always been against artificial family planning but that Gawad Kalinga had been receiving funds from companies manufacturing contraceptives.

“If you do that, you are forgetting Christian values,” Reyes said.

“You can always work with everyone—Muslims, Buddhists—but still not forget Christian values. We can remain Christians. We should not forget our Christian values,” he said.

He added that when he discussed the letter with some CFC leaders, they assured him that they would abide by the Vatican guidance.

Asked if the Gawad Kalinga had placed the CFC in a bad light, Reyes answered in the negative.

Split

He said the letter was probably intended to prevent a similar conflict from occurring in other CFC organizations in other countries.

That conflict had actually resulted in a split between Antonio Meloto and his group and the breakaway group led by CFC founder Frank Padilla.

The letter from the Vatican appears to be taking the side of Padilla’s group, which had protested Meloto’s style of managing Gawad Kalinga.

Together with Padilla, Meloto, received the 2006 Ramon Magsaysay Award for Leadership. He said his organization would continue to serve the poor and the country.

“Our work is nation-building,” he said, adding that Gawad Kalinga had the support of more than 350 partner-corporations.

“We do not judge politicians as corrupt. We engage them in our work. We are a divided country already in terms of politics, religion. We want to unite everyone through our work,” he said.

Meloto stressed that he was a devout Catholic and remained an active member of the CFC. “But I am more focused on nation-building, in our work at Gawad Kalinga,” he said.

Asked to comment on the letter from the Vatican, CFC president Jose Tale cut short a phone interview with the Inquirer, saying: “We (CFC officers and members) are preparing a statement … We will be discussing that … We already came out with a paid ad on April 7.”

That advertisement merely reiterated the mission of the organization and its four core values—pro-God, pro-family, pro-life, and pro-poor.

It stated: “We will continue to pursue the work for the poor through Gawad Kalinga and our social ministries. Gawad Kalinga is an integral part of our life and mission resulting from our spiritual growth and our commitment to God to love the poor.

“We will continue to defend, protect and promote life in accordance with the guidelines set by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. We sincerely apologize for any scandal that the Couples for Christ leadership, past or present, may have caused among the faithful with our previous partnerships.”

“We will do our mission in full communion with the hierarchy of the Catholic Church and in observance of the statutes of Couples for Christ as a private international association of the faithful as approved by Pontifical Council for the laity.”

Limit on donations

“We will continue to welcome back our brethren who have left the community and help promote the spirit of our brotherhood and reconciliation.”

Asked whether the CFC would move to impose limitations on the donations to be received by Gawad Kalinga, Tale merely said the matter was part of the discussion among CFC officials.


Just saw this earlier today.

Some notes:

1. CD, are you sure you got the right link to Carmela Fonbuena's Myspace and Blogger accounts? I mean, there could be a million people with the name "Carmela Fonbuena", right?
2. I propose that you close the comments section for now, seeing that this can get dirty (as in DJ Montano/Brian Gorrell-esque). CFC leaders and members professing to "love one another" now sound like they are the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland (remember: "Off with her head!")
3. In the meantime, we should wait for all the letters to come in. We need to see the files, particularly the relevant letters, before coming to a proper reaction. Practicing love for one another also includes keeping quiet for the moment.

Needleheart said...

God's great LOVE year to all of us!

Medyo na gulat ako sa mga sinabi ng kabilang istasyon...hindi ko ba alam kung ano ang gusto nilang palabasin...pero sa totoo lang naasar talaga ako...yun ang nararamdaman ko...

All of their accusation in our community is aFALSE ACCUSATIONat all...in fact I can't see their REAL MISSIONandVISIONto split up to the GK side...

And to the poor writer of the said network...SHAME ON YOU!!!...yun lang ang masasabi ko sa iyo...para sa akin,YOU'VE DISGRACE THE NETWORK'na pinagtratrabahuan mo...

SaKABILANG ISTASYON, tapos na dapat ang lahat eh, nagingay pa kayo...sana tumahimik na lang kayo ok...

So that may God be praise!

Athrun Atreides said...

PS. Does anyone have an original copy of the CFC "Arc de Triomphe" which was shown during at Araneta last January? I've been meaning to upload it at CFCpedia but I don't know where to get a copy.

If possible, please email it to me:
eldocteur823 at yahoo dot com

Thanks and God bless! Love you!

Anonymous said...

CD I believe the letters are still private and confidential, that is why the IC has not brought these out to the members. There were only two sources of these letters, the IC and the spiritual director. I don't want to speculate where the leak came from. I think with this bruhaha, the IC will be asking for clearance from the Vatican if they can release the letters. I hope everyone appreciates that posture that the IC continues to keep. It must be terribly hard for them to continue to resist their human nature to strike back. Let us continue to pray for them. Specially pray for Joe Tale who is still recovering from the most deadly strain of Malaria.

Anonymous said...

I agree that the letter to the IC could be confidential.

Even if the letter can potentially vindicate the IC, the IC should not publish the letter out of respect for the sender (unless they can secure permission). If there is an expectation of privacy by the sender, then whoever leaked that letter, that's between him/her and God. We should not be ones to cast the first stone.

Anonymous said...

It is important for me to keep an objective view on the situation. Although this 'scandal' seems to hit close to the heart, one must be able to think and respond in a non-hostile way. Yes, it is possible that hostility is another way of showing emotion or passion but what need is there to do this if there is nothing to be guilty of? Actions or comments that seem to blame the other group, without any concrete evidence that they are responsible, seems almost as bad as what you feel has been done to you. Although, there IS a definite need to 'defend your honor', can it not be done without smearing someone else or another or more specifically, THE other group? In times of hurt, it is almost natural for humans to find a point of blame, regardless of who or what it is, especially if there is even the smallest reason to justify the blame, but as Catholics, we are called to rise above the 'natural human response'. Hence, Jesus' idea of 'turning the other cheek'. Now, this isn't a suggestion to completely disregard the issue and move on, instead this is a call to focus on what is truly important: clarifying all these allegations beyond doubt.

Vague responses from the council, short answers from certain leaders, and merely snippets of the letter in question will only lead to more confusion not only in the members of both communities but to most of the world. Since there is already the fear of detractors (both in the other groups or the media itself) and the negative comments that may be incited from the 'official statements' being given by the IC, it is even more important to be clear and truly honest about the situation at hand because that is what will separate this group from any other global corporation, foundation, or business.

This is in no way an attempt to make a negative comment, instead it is call to actualize the summary of all that we are taught in the CFC community as a whole (FFL and IC), to be better Catholics and to prepare ourselves to be worthy of the Lord. I am speaking as someone who has taken a step back from the community since the split but still care deeply about the credibility and life of both groups. God bless you all.

Anonymous said...

IT is not private anymore even ABS CBN got a copy in pdf available in their website, pls click link

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/images/news/newspics/downloads/cfcletter.pdf

Anonymous said...

To Fire,

Nicely said. Thank you for your reminder.

God bless you.

Anonymous said...

The world isn't perfect. CFC, and CFC-FFL are both imperfect. The Church isn't perfect. Having said this, I am not ashamed to live in this world. I am not ashamed to be part of CFC. I am proud to be Catholic. We are a people of God, but that doesn't take out the fact that we're human. Imperfection should not lead to destruction, but rather, it should lead to motivation. This is the motivation to be closer to perfection, even when perfection itself is unattainable by humanity.

Ernie said...

To Anonymous who said "The world isn't perfect. CFC, and CFC-FFL are both imperfect. The Church isn't perfect".

After reading your take, I was just reminded of Bo Sanchez presentation on Community Life.

You may need to have a multiply account to access the page. You can open an account, it's FREE anyway.

For those who have an account, just click the play arrow of the Playlist (>). The file will play and you can listen to Bo nail it.

There is HOPE in Jesus Christ, we just have to PRESS ON and LOVE ONE ANOTHER, so the world will know that we are Jesus' disciples.

Enjoy

Anonymous said...

TO HA HA HA..

HINDI APO ANG KUMANTA NOON..SI FREDIE AGUILAR...HA HA HA...

Anonymous said...

BROTHERS & SISTERS!

I BELIEVE IT IS ABOUT TIME FOR US TO REFLECT ON OUR FCL TALK NO.12- UNITY IN CHRIST..

WE HAVE NOT DONE MUCH TO AVOID WHAT LEADS US TO DISUNITY..

INSTEAD, WE CONTINUE TO DESTROY THE ONE BODY OF CHRIST..

OUR FOUNDATION FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING IS NOW WEAK BEACAUSE OF THE MANY EARTHQUAKES THAT HAS SHAKEN OUR COMMUNITY..

BROTHERS & SISTERS LET US REINFORCED OUR FOUNDATION..LET US ALL REFLECT..LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER..OR THE DEVIL WILL DEMOLISH US..

GOD BLESS CFC..GOD BLESS GK..GOD BLESS US ALL..

Anonymous said...

Meloto seeks clarification of Church policy on social action
By Jeannette Andrade
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 23:41:00 04/18/2008

MANILA, Philippines--Former Gawad Kalinga head Antonio Meloto on Friday sought "clarity and consistency" in the Catholic Church’s policy on funding for projects, declaring that GK’s work has always been pro-life.

Meloto told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net): "If saving the children from tuberculosis and malnutrition is a sin for me as a Catholic, then I am a sinner. I just need to be guided by a clear direction from our church leaders."

The GK founding member was responding to the March 11 Vatican "correction" sent to Couples’ for Christ president Jose Tale in which the Pontifical Council for the Laity mentioned the Gawad Kalinga’s purported shift of focus from the spiritual to the social as well as its alleged openness to donations from companies that promote artificial family planning.

"Should all Catholics who work with pharmaceuticals resign? Shall we all stop buying medicine to be in faithful compliance? Is Ateneo less Catholic because they partnered with a pharmaceutical for their successful leaders for health? Why is it okay for many Catholic organizations to receive support from them and not okay for GK in caring for the poor. With all due respect, we just want clarity and consistency," Meloto said.

The GK has more than 350 partner-corporations that support its work with the poor.

He further lamented: "What can be more pro-life than feeding the hungry and saving children from malnutrition, TB, and other diseases? Or transforming slums and troubled communities and stopping people from killing one another?"

Meloto pointed out that Gawad Kalinga has been working in over 1,700 villages nationwide together with people of other faiths, including born-again Christians and Muslims "who love God and country."

"If loving this country, serving the poor and saving the children is anti-life then I need to be enlightened again as a Catholic because I only desire to be faithful," he said.

He said he was a devout Catholic and remained an active member of the CFC.

"My pain as a Catholic and as Filipino is seeing our people suffer from poverty and our country labeled as corrupt. We have not done enough for our poor countrymen. Poverty in the only Catholic country in Asia is a failure in discipleship and Christian stewardship. My dream is for the world to see that it is possible for a Catholic country (to) rise from poverty because we practice what we preach," he said.

On Thursday, Antipolo Bishop Gabriel Reyes , chairman of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines' Episcopal Commission on the Laity, said that the Vatican merely intended to guide and correct the GK’s overemphasis on social work when it sent a letter to the CFC.
GK was founded by CFC and has been credited for providing slum dwellers and other low-income groups with decent housing and livelihood.

The Antipolo bishop maintained that the guidance also covers the acceptance of funds from pharmaceutical companies purportedly supportive of artificial family planning.

Anonymous said...

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hahaha