Friday, April 25, 2008

The Best Laid Plans

The whole phrase, "'The best-laid plans of mice and men / Go oft awry", comes from a Robert Burns poem.

I got this email yesterday. I sat on it for a while, thinking of whether to let these "plans" come to fruition, or allow you all to make your own judgement on the motives behind it.



Hello all. We are entering, or have already entered, into a critical period in the life and mission of the authentic and restored CFC, in relation to the Vatican. The IC (Int'l Council) under Joe Tale has gone to the Vatican, as brokered by Archbp Arguelles, the brother of Joey who is an IC member. They were chastised (Rylko letter of March 11 to JT) but at the same time were given the opportunity to rectify things. This they have made a show of doing but have not really conformed to the directives of the Vatican.

What is the score? What are the plus factors for us? (1) The Vatican recognizes me as the founder of CFC. (2) They agree that the social should not overpower the spiritual. (3) They have the findings of our Philippine bishops under Bp Reyes, saying the IC veered away and were disobedient to the bishops. What are the plus factors for them? (1) They are considered the legal CFC (this is due to the legal validity of the election of the IC), and so they are the CFC recognized by the Vatican (though I maintain this does not necessarily exclude us). (2) The Vatican, I believe, wants to save face. The permanent recognition of CFC was just granted in 2005 and it really does not look good that in just two years it has split. This is probably why the Vatican will not recognize just us and not them, since that will take fancy legal/canonical footwork.

Complicating matters for us is the certainty that the IC has campaigned for its cause with the Vatican. They have a formidable propaganda machinery with political and secular minds running it. They have maligned me as they do everywhere. I was surprised when the monsignor in the Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL) said that the problem was just between two persons (TM and me) and even implied that I was jealous of TM! This is exactly the line (and the lie) that the IC continues to tell.

In my visit to the PCL last April 7 (Cardinal Rylko was not around, just his two deputies), while recognizing me as the founder, they wanted unity and reconciliation. In their directive to JT, the PCL wanted unity and reconciliation, and hoped that the split would not affect CFC outside the Philippines. Bp Reyes visited the PCL just last April 21. He did this because Archbp Arguelles, without informing him, lawyered for the IC and brought them to the Vatican (we have good information that the PCL rebuffed JT's earlier request to meet Cardinal Rylko; but how can they refuse an archbishop?). I have not yet talked with Bp Reyes, but his initial report to Maribel is that the Vatican will allow two CFCs in the Philippines, but only one CFC in other countries. This is probably because the Philippines is already split and the bishops have recognized two CFCs, but they do not know that CFC in the world is also already split and so mistakenly hope that unity can be maintained (and thus the scandal localized). One importance of this, if this is so, is that indeed, given certain circumstances, the Vatican can allow two CFCs.

If what Bp Reyes reports is as I got it, then the status of the name of CFCs throughout the world that are not aligned with CFC Global will be in jeopardy. Thus, if you agree, I ask you to write the PCL/Vatican regarding your own communal situation. The IC did a lot of campaigning, and now, in this critical period, we probably need to do so too. Following are suggested inputs, though you of course should write out of your knowledge of the truth and out of your personal/communal conviction.

*** State your credentials (National Council, governance team, elder position, etc.).
*** Describe the situation in your country or area regarding the split. This clearly tells the Vatican that the split has already affected the CFC world. State what percentage of the CFC membership has gone with CFC-FFL. This says that we are not a small splinter group as the other side claims.
*** Speak about how you see the crisis/split. How the other side veered away. How they were disrespectful to the bishops. How you are for the restoration of our authentic charism. How CFC-GK will ultimately destroy CFC. How you can no longer follow the IC.
*** Make your appeal to the Vatican. To recognize that we are the true CFC. And whatever else.

*** If you have a CFC corporation, then say so. The PCL has to know that CFCGMFI, even with the IC legally elected, is not the true owner of the CFC name. It is all of us throughout the world, and in your case, even legally speaking.
*** If you have approval by your bishop, say so.

In addition, there can be personal testimonies.
*** Brethren who have really something significant to say.
*** Clergy who have journeyed with us and know well our situation (e.g., Spiritual Directors of South Africa).

Write as led by the Holy Spirit. The overall intent is to let the Vatican know what has already happened throughout the CFC world, and contrary to the disinformation of the IC. Our hope is that the Vatican will not suppress your use of the CFC name.

Please send your letters, immediately by fax and then followed by a hard copy, to:

His Eminence
Stanislaw Cardinal Rylko
President, Pontifical Council for the Laity
00120 Citta del Vaticano, Europe

FAX 06 698.87214
Tel 06 698.87322

Mostly I have been letting go and letting God, allowing God to fight for us, and normally not responding to the unfounded attacks of the other side. There have been so much maligning, slander and lies, and we do know that Satan is the father of lies. We are in intense spiritual warfare. So many people, our brethren as well as the Vatican, are confused and ask, "What is truth?" If it was just me, I can continue to be silent and rejoice in the persecution. But your own life and mission are now affected or could be affected even more, perhaps adversely depending on what the Vatican pronounces. So while we of course are indeed totally dependent upon God's mercy and grace, there are times when we need to more aggressively speak about what is right and true and just. This is such a time. Some would say it is even long overdue.

I attach for your info, if you have not seen this yet, a paper on "The Real Issue." God bless and protect us all.

frank

"For to me life is Christ, and death is gain." (Phil 1:21)

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

CD,
can you please post the actual email in PDF form?

Anonymous said...

No additional comment. This email speaks for itself.

Musicman said...

This is so unChristian. May God have mercy on Biboy

Edwin Cruz
Central C

Anonymous said...

So he said "Write as led by the Holy Spirit," even though earlier he said "Speak about how you see the crisis/split. How the other side veered away. How they were disrespectful to the bishops. How you are for the restoration of our authentic charism. How CFC-GK will ultimately destroy CFC. How you can no longer follow the IC."

That doesn't sound like something the Holy Spirit would say. I don't remember the Spirit ever being judgemental.

Anonymous said...

Naging VERY PROUD na talaga si Frank!

Imagine! The first plus factor he considers for FFL vs CFC is the claim that 'he is the founder of CFC!

Why does it need to be that the moving spirit of whatever else FFL needs to do to fight for survival while it goes through deathly throes, is the personality of FAP?

At the end that is the what they in FFL will be quarreling about! For one day, they'll wake up to find that all along its the supposed Padilla mystique that they've been living for!

Anonymous said...

Let us Pray Frank for Humility and Obedience.

CFC Only

Anonymous said...

As per Frank's:

What are the plus factors for them? (1) They are considered the legal CFC (this is due to the legal validity of the election of the IC), and so they are the CFC recognized by the Vatican (though I maintain this does not necessarily exclude us).

SO?, THE ELECTION WAS INDEED VALID, SO THERE WAS NO 'DISOBEDIENCE' TO THE BISHOPS' RECOMMENDATION TO POSTPONE THE ELECTIONS.

THERE YOU GO FRANK, WHY CONTINUE TO ACCUSE OF THE SO CALLED DISOBEDIENCE.

BISHOP REYES, IT WAS NOT DISOBEDIENCE INDEED!

Anonymous said...

Did this email really come from our brother Frank Padilla? I can't believe it.

I have heard some of his talks before and it's un-imaginable that the same person would be capable of writing something with a tone like this. Maybe it's just me and may God forgive me if I think this way of whoever wrote this, but it's not too difficult to see which of the two choices below can describe the email.

Galatian 5:19 - Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

For now, I will give the benefit of the doubt that this letter did not come from him.

However, if it's true that he was the one who wrote this, then let us all pray for our brother Frank. Baka naman he wrote this in haste or out of frustration which would then be understandable. Each of us has our moment of weakness at one point or another. It is during times like this where we really need to care for him and love him and uplift him in our prayers. I pray that he will be victorious in the spiritual battle within him. Tayo din naman, nagkakamali.

May God's name be praised.

Anonymous said...

Frank: "and so they are the CFC recognized by the Vatican (though I maintain this does not necessarily exclude us)"

Am I the only one interested to hear what arguments will be presented in the future for this? I find it a very technical challenge to spin this so it's got to be an interesting read when they eventually come up with their arguments.

Anonymous said...

Firstly, Bro. Frank Padilla, I just wonder what you'd have done had you called the shots instead of Bro. Joe Tale during the elections last year. Would you have consulted the EA? Was the bishops' "recommendation" really a matter of faith and morals that it rightly was within their purview to expect the "recommendation" be unquestioningly obeyed?

And if you had postponed the elections, are you sure the things you hoped/planned to happen would come to pass?

Will not the majority who'd vote to proceed with the elections voice out its contrary opinion that might have led also to a schism such as what happened?

I believe you'd have just proclaimed the postponement and expected everyone to obey the elder's decision.

Secondly, Bro. Frank, are these not slandererous words?
"They do not understand Church authority and hierarchy. Or to put it less kindly, they reject such authority, while professing otherwise." I read this: They are fools that they cannot understand; they are deceivers and liars by not admitting their disobedience!
The article "The Real Issue" is rife with sweeping self-righteous statements without presenting sound bases.

If these were said to you, Bro. Frank, what would you feel?

In 2 Corinthians 12:20 we read St. Paul's apprehension: For I fear that when I come, I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish; I fear that there may perhaps be quarrelling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

Paul also wrote in Romans 1:29-31: (29)They were filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, craftiness, they are gossips, (30)slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, rebellious towards parents, (31)foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Bro. Frank, I believe you led us to this.

Tame your tongue! Moreso you teachers "for you know that (you) who teach will be judged with greater strictness" [James 3:1].

Colossians 3:21 says: "Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged."

Bro. Frank, you continue to discourage me and I am hurting. But my hurts shall not stop me from proceeding with the work.

Go CFC West C

miniongCFC said...

Just curious ===
Bishop Reyes directly reporting to FFL as mentioned/implied in FAP's email?
Nagtatanong lang po.

Anonymous said...

FP: "I was surprised when the monsignor in the Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL) said that the problem was just between two persons (TM and me) and even implied that I was jealous of TM! This is exactly the line (and the lie) that the IC continues to tell."

Pride is oozing out of the woodwork and it is easy for people to see. Anyway, who among the two are blabbermouthing, TM or FP? Who is bridling his tongue? The high clergy in the Vatican are not blind. Pardon the pun but, Holy See? Try applying Oakum's Principle.

Anonymous said...

to dear anonymous: If you can't believe that frank could write such an email, then you have been asleep for the past year. I have always looked up to frank since we joined twenty six years ago ---inspite of his weaknesses as a person and leader. However,after he resigned and he started to use the email as his means of "warfare", his credibility started to erode before my eyes. he has written much much more that put himself in a" self destruction mode."

Sleepless in NJ said...

(2) The Vatican, I believe, wants to save face. The permanent recognition of CFC was just granted in 2005 and it really does not look good that in just two years it has split. This is probably why the Vatican will not recognize just us and not them, since that will take fancy legal/canonical footwork.


Just a note:
Who are we to imply that we know more than the Vatican? Do we really think that the Vatican can be easily persuaded with such "legal footwork?"

Present this letter to the Vatican and see how they would reply to such reason.

Is it possible that there is wisdom in the Vatican's Position in CFC?

Is it possible that they are the opportunity to have both perspective (Franks and IC) and took time to discern their position?

Are we arrogant to imply that the Vatican was coarse in their discernment?

Whose position is more credible? Frank's or the Vatican Cardinal?

How do you know if it is from the Holy Spirit?

You will know them by their fruits.

Anonymous said...

Frank Padilla wrote: "If it was just me, I can continue to be silent and rejoice in the persecution. But your own life and mission are now affected or could be affected even more, perhaps adversely depending on what the Vatican pronounces. So while we of course are indeed totally dependent upon God's mercy and grace, there are times when we need to more aggressively speak about what is right and true and just. This is such a time. Some would say it is even long overdue."

Frank Padilla is indeed very clearly just using the brethren as PAWNS for his botched plans.

Why would FFL's life and mission be adversely affected if the Vatican recognizes only one CFC?

The Vatican is merely putting closure to the confusion that has resulted from two groups calling themselves with the same name.

Can't they do the work of evangelization, even if they are only known as FFL?

Anonymous said...

The instructions that FAP gave to his FFL followers, [after the CFC-IC posted the now much talked about and much applauded: "...your name Couples for Christ cannot be used by any other association."] are the ramblings of a man who's taken by surprise and is now losing control.

His pet Bishop failed to convince the Cardinal in Vatican in that 4/21 trip, and Frank is thoroughly disappointed in Bishop GReyes' report to FFL (Yes, Bishop GReyes reports directly to Frank or to Maribel, in Frank's absence -- as confirmed by his letter on Easter Group emails w/c is reproduced here.)

It could be deduced from Frank's instructions that he was proceeding on the basis of Vatican's allowing two associations to use CFC name in the Philippines, which is a totally mistaken belief.

FAP is mistaken, but he was fed wrong information by Bishop GReyes!

However, Bishop GReyes did not know that there was already a letter written by Cardinal Rylko that there could only be one CFC in the Philippines and anywhere in he world!

Proof? Its Cardinal Rylko's April 03 letter to CFC through JTale that contains this much awaited statement!

It was smart of CFC-IC to print that ad!

Now it's FFLs turn to display their courage; they now need to show that there is reality in their avowed OBEDIENCE TO THE CHURCH and to CARDINAL RYLKO!

Meantime, perhaps we can expect much paperwork will be coming out of FFL as FAP will churn out more of his essays and what he thinks Vatican or CBCP should do in this affair! Following his style and pattern, FAP will again act to be the analyst of the situation and then will offer steps to be followed as in the infamous GK3 paper.

Later on we might hear him say, the Bishops and the Cardinals should resign because they veered towards CFC!

Anonymous said...

I am amazed at Frank Padilla's nerves. Why?

"What is the score? What are the plus factors for us? (1) The Vatican recognizes me as the founder of CFC."

--- Everybody in CFC knows that he was just a participant in the 1st ever CLP. And now he's the founder? Amazing... And what's more amazing is that nobody in FFL, and i mean NOBODY, dared to correct the Good Bishop of Iloilo, and the Vaticanm about this. Siyempre... bakit mo aayusin eh "POGI POINTS" nga for the FFL yun di ba?

"I have not yet talked with Bp Reyes, but his initial report to Maribel is that..."

"If what Bp Reyes reports is as I got it"

--- Amazing... The Good Bishop reports to Frank and Maribel! Enough said...

"If it was just me, I can continue to be silent..."

--- Really Frank? You, silent? You were a guest on a radio program on DZMM. And most of the things you said there contradicted what you wrote on Friend or Foe.

When it was Joe's turn to guest on DZMM. I was personally angry at him. Why? He had the microphone, he had the chance, he COULD HAVE DONE IT! But he did not. He did not even say anything BAD about you. It was Joe who really LET GO and LET GOD.

Alam mo Frank, ipagdadasal kita ng doble-doble. Mag-fa-fast pa ako for you. Because I think, you really need it. God Bless You in all of your attempts to let everybody know that you are STILL a part of CFC.