Friday, April 25, 2008

Once and For All

The title of the entry is a phrase borrowed from the following document. I was originally going to include the document in the previous entry, I will post it in its entirety here, because I think it really deserves to stand on its own. Some things need to be told in black and white to sink in. The doc tells its own tale, so no need for further introduction.

A RESPONSE TO FFL’S “THE REAL ISSUE”

The Foundation for Family and Life has been circulating a document entitled “The Real Issue” in the African continent. While it contains mostly rehashed issues, which have been addressed many times before, the Ugnayan Multimedia Center deemed it best to reply to these issues once and for all, in the interest of truth, and to finally lay these matters to rest.

For clarity’s sake, we are first reprinting in toto the FFL document. Our point-by-point response follows (in bold letters).

The Real Issue

The crisis in CFC is not about two factions not getting along with each other, but is about basic principles of morality, integrity and Church life and mission. As such, the solution is not merely to recognize two CFCs, but to assure that both CFCs are in line with Catholic morality. Therefore, the situation of CFC-GK under the IC (Int’l Council) cannot just be left as it is. They have veered away from the charism and mission of CFC. But it is not just CFC that is affected, but the whole Roman Catholic Church of which CFC is a part.

In fact, a recognition of two CFCs might just result in legitimizing the wrongs that have been committed and institutionalizing what ultimately will work against God’s intent.

What are the basic problems inherent in the mindset of CFC-GK leaders today?

(1) They do not understand Church authority and hierarchy. Or to put it less kindly, they reject such authority, while professing otherwise.

Ø They disrespected the bishops (Archbp Lagdameo, Bp Reyes, Bp Villegas).

Ø They kept the bishops’ directives from CFC members, a direct disobedience of Bp Reyes’ directive to disseminate his letters to all CFC members.

Ø They treated the bishops’ strong recommendations as just recommendations that they were free to accept or reject. This is true enough in the strictest sense, but pastorally, the bishops should have been followed.

Ø They kept misrepresenting the bishops’ words and actions, to the point of being formally corrected a few times by Bp Reyes.

Ø They did not correct young fulltimers who maligned the bishops in their blogs.

Ø They profess to submit to and follow the bishops but they do not do so. A case in point is Bp Reyes repeatedly saying that there can be two CFCs, but they have rejected this and even now are threatening to take legal action against CFC-FFL on the use of the name.

Ø They make promises to the bishops but do not carry them out. After over five months, they still have not cut their partnerships with pharmaceuticals producing or marketing contraceptives, as they promised they would.

(2) They do not understand the basic mission of the Church, which is to proclaim Christ.

Ø Their basic thrust is GK, with the goal of GK777. But in the work of GK, Christ has been marginalized or totally cut out. The work ought not to be the social without the spiritual, extolling heroism but not holiness, building a nation but not the kingdom of God. In other words, GK has become charity without Christ.

Ø They are missing out on the great potential of GK to become an evangelistic tool, as God intended for it to be.

(3) A lot of secular, humanist thinking has come in.

Ø The right-hand man of Tony Meloto is Boy Montelibano, who is a New Ager and an admirer of Freemasonry. He has been tasked to form the minds of the young GK workers.

Ø Joe Tale has resorted to legalities a number of times, to the frustration of Bp Reyes, and such legalism has actually been the cause of the split.

Ø Other IC members are very corporate and secular in their approaches.

Ø Tony Meloto of course is a marketing man. This is precisely why he has marginalized Christ and CFC in GK, to appeal to an even greater number of partners and funders who will only give to non-sectarian causes.

Ø Many are convinced that there is a political agenda, and GK is merely a tool to further the ambitions of some.

(4) IC elders have lost their integrity and pastoral sense.

Ø They conducted a witch hunt against Lachie Agana, using affidavits and a lawyer in the process, not informing Lachie what the charges were, and only to conclude, after three months, that there was no serious wrongdoing but there were only procedural lapses (even these Lachie disputes).

Ø They spread the false accusation that two top leaders were having an affair, and continued to spread this, even in the face of outright denials and having no proofs at all.

Ø They maligned those who had issues with them, especially Frank Padilla, about whom they spread many outright falsehoods.

Ø They undermined the win-win agreement about the elections that was approved by the bishops, which if carried out would have prevented the split.

Ø Joe Tale and Rouquel Ponte promised that they would not run for the IC if the win-win agreement was not carried out, but they did run.

Ø Joe Tale told Frank two days before the elections that he would not run for the IC, but on election day reneged on this and did run.

Ø They fired from their services brethren who had issues with them and who were working for restoration. They did most of this through email, or copy furnished by email, or just by text.

Ø They have not paid the retirement benefits of those who served faithfully so long, and even now are trying to find ways and means to avoid payment.

Ø They refuse to recognize CFC-FFL even when many bishops have already done so.


The effects of all these are:

(1) CFC members, especially the impressionable young, will continue to be misled.

(2) CFC-GK itself will do a lot of good for the poor but will not be building the kingdom of God, and may in fact be undermining it.

Ø Tony’s goal is for the Philippines to become First World. We all know what that means in terms of loss of morality and the move to secularism and even hedonism.

(3) Those that God would have planned for CFC to evangelize and pastorally care for will not be evangelized and pastorally supported.


ALL THESE ADVERSELY AFFECT THE VERY LIFE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH.

(1) We will have a whole generation of heroes but not disciples of Christ.

(2) We will have the poor liberated from material need but not saved from sin.

(3) The CFC that God has raised will not be doing its work according to His will and plan.


(Jan 29, 2008)


CFC’S RESPONSE (in bold letters)

THE REAL ISSUE


The crisis in CFC is not about two factions not getting along with each other, but is about basic principles of morality, integrity and Church life and mission. As such, the solution is not merely to recognize two CFCs, but to assure that both CFCs are in line with Catholic morality. Therefore, the situation of CFC-GK under the IC (Int’l Council) cannot just be left as it is. They have veered away from the charism and mission of CFC. But it is not just CFC that is affected, but the whole Roman Catholic Church of which CFC is a part.

· The crisis was brought about by a simple fact – a leader resigned, then changed his mind, and when he could not get back into position, decided to break away from the community. All the issues (the veering away accusation, the “witch hunt” allegation, the alleged disobedience to the bishops) came after the fact of the resignation that went awry.

· There has been no affirmation of the “veering away” issues, even after almost a year, because CFC under the International Council has never deviated from its Vatican-approved Statutes nor the vision and mission that have shaped the community from the time of its inception.

· The only reason the Catholic Church is being affected is because of FFL’s insistence that CFC has disobeyed the bishops, an issue that is highly debatable and is now in fact a non-issue, given the dialogues that have been conducted between CFC leaders and the bishops concerned.


In fact, a recognition of two CFCs might just result in legitimizing the wrongs that have been committed and institutionalizing what ultimately will work against God’s intent.

· This is precisely our argument – that there can only be one CFC. We wholeheartedly agree with our FFL brethren on this point.

· There is actually a precedent in the history of Philippine lay private associations when the Church DID NOT sanction the recognition of two similarly-named groups. When a small group broke away from the Bukas Loob sa Diyos community, the Philippine clergy, specifically Jaime Cardinal Sin and some other bishops, intervened. They contended that they could not recognize two communities bearing the same name and therefore Cardinal Sin came up with a new name for the break-away group – Serviam.

· This is also precisely why the African cardinals and bishops, some bishops in the Middle East and in North America, have decided to recognize only one CFC, the CFC that is headed by Joe Tale and with Gawad Kalinga as one of its programs.


What are the basic problems inherent in the mindset of CFC-GK leaders today?

(5) They do not understand Church authority and hierarchy. Or to put it less kindly, they reject such authority, while professing otherwise.

· As far as understanding Church authority and hierarchy, CFC, for the past 20 years or so, has been following principles and guidelines relating to its relationship with the Church based on what Frank Padilla has been teaching. His book, “Friend of Foe,” outlines these guidelines very clearly.

Ø They disrespected the bishops (Archbp Lagdameo, Bp Reyes, Bp Villegas).

· The IC has repeated, ad nauseam, their contention that the elections pushed through not because of the IC’s disobedience to the bishops, but because of obedience to the Vatican Statutes and to the authority of the higher body – the Elders Assembly.

Ø They kept the bishops’ directives from CFC members, a direct disobedience of Bp Reyes’ directive to disseminate his letters to all CFC members.

· The International Council has never withheld from the members any of the bishops’ directives. They had plenty of help from Frank Padilla’s group in this matter. A case in point: The June 7 letter of the three bishops was hand-carried by Bishop Reyes and given to Maribel Descallar on that same day at the CFC Center. Ms. Descallar distributed the letter to the members of the Elders Assembly even before the International Council members received a copy.

· The internet domain of CFC was handled by someone who eventually joined the Frank Padilla group. Thus, all the bishops’ directives and Frank’s emails were regularly being blasted by this person to the worldwide CFC family.

· The IC had no direct control of this internet network. It would not be until September of 2007 that the IC would realize that the emails and other directives they were sending, such as Council Statements and replies to the break-away group’s emails, were not reaching the members because all the email addresses had been tampered with.

Ø They treated the bishops’ strong recommendations as just recommendations that they were free to accept or reject. This is true enough in the strictest sense, but pastorally, the bishops should have been followed.

· During the August 28 dialogue, Bishop Gabby Reyes acknowledged that their recommendation was simply that – a recommendation that the IC was indeed free to accept or reject. He affirmed that CFC is administratively under the direct supervision of the Vatican and that the CBCP only has recommendatory functions with regard to CFC, and only in cases of doctrine and morals. He stated at that dialogue that, at that point in time, even with the complaints filed by FFL, the CBCP saw no reason to write to the Vatican about these complaints.

· Thus, we agree that in the strictest sense, because they were couched as recommendations, the Elders Assembly (not the IC) were free to accept or reject them. Pastorally, however, the IC was obligated to follow the Vatican-approved statutes with regard to the conduct of the elections.

Ø They kept misrepresenting the bishops’ words and actions, to the point of being formally corrected a few times by Bp Reyes.

· Perhaps the FFL would do well to look into their own actions of blasting Bishop Reyes’ statements all over the world, such actions designed to misrepresent the IC as disobedient and veering away, when most of the bishops have already stated that CFC did not commit such actions.

Ø They did not correct young full-timers who maligned the bishops in their blogs.

· The IC has always stood by its admonition to the entire community to “Be Still” in the face of the attacks and relentless negative emails. It has no control over blogs (which are almost always contributed by anonymous persons). Many Council Statements were in fact issued that cautioned the members against unloving acts and enjoined them to relate to FFL members in Christian love.

Ø They profess to submit to and follow the bishops but they do not do so. A case in point is Bp Reyes repeatedly saying that there can be two CFCs, but they have rejected this and even now are threatening to take legal action against CFC-FFL on the use of the name.

· The CFC Statutes, which have been approved by the Vatican, serve as the International Council’s sacred guide in steering the community, particularly in times of confusion and disagreements. On the question of whether there can be two CFCs, the Statutes are clear: there is only one CFC and there can only be ONE CFC Worldwide. The following articles of the Statutes are pertinent to this issue:

· “ 7.21 Unity. COUPLES FOR CHRIST throughout the world is one body, one family, one army. It is to have one vision and one mission. It is one united work of the Holy Spirit. It is to live out one culture, the Christian culture that transcends national, racial and social differences.

· Interdependence. The worldwide CFC family is a global network of CFC groups in different countries, all acting within the framework of the overall CFC vision and mission.”

· Our dear Bishops recognize the statutes. Cardinal Rylko upholds this provision of having just one CFC in the world, as stated in his letter to the International Council dated April 3, 2008 wherein he clarified that no other association may use the name CFC.

· When CFC defends its use of the name, it is only following guidelines already enshrined in the Statutes.

Ø They make promises to the bishops but do not carry them out. After over five months, they still have not cut their partnerships with pharmaceuticals producing or marketing contraceptives, as they promised they would.

· The IC has complied with the Vatican’s (and some Philippine bishops’) directive with regard to these partnerships. The IC has never sanctioned any partnership for the distribution of contraceptives or condoms in the sites, contrary to rumors that were floated.

(6) They do not understand the basic mission of the Church, which is to proclaim Christ.

Ø Their basic thrust is GK, with the goal of GK777. But in the work of GK, Christ has been marginalized or totally cut out. The work ought not to be the social without the spiritual, extolling heroism but not holiness, building a nation but not the kingdom of God. In other words, GK has become charity without Christ.

Ø They are missing out on the great potential of GK to become an evangelistic tool, as God intended for it to be.

· We are sorry if our FFL brethren do not understand the vision and mission of CFC and its application to GK. We would like to remind them that the basic mission of CFC for at least the past ten years has been “bringing glad tidings to the poor” which was further refined to “Building the Church of the Home and Building the Church of the Poor,” and GK is the concrete expression of this mission.

· CFC is committed to following the Vatican Statutes that call for it to espouse Total Christian Liberation. The work with the poor has always stressed that transformation of their physical surroundings must be preceded by renewal of hearts. This is the basic reason why CFC members immerse themselves in the GK sites, not simply to build homes but to ensure that Christian values formation is carried out and Christian living is taught.

· GK caretaker teams are committed to GK because of their love of God and love of country.

· CFC believes that GK is not simply about nation building. It goes deeper than this because it is anchored on the very mission of Christ himself, the mission that he proclaimed when He began His public ministry: “The spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind, to free the oppressed and announce the Lord’s year of mercy.” Luke 4:18-19

· CFC has indeed recognized GK’s great potential for evangelization. Before homes are even built, caretaker teams already conduct values formation programs, culminating in the Christian Life Program. Statistics show that 85% of beneficiaries in GK sites are now members of CFC. The increase in CFC membership can be directly attributed to the evangelization efforts in GK sites.

(7) A lot of secular, humanist thinking has come in.

Ø The right-hand man of Tony Meloto is Boy Montelibano, who is a New Ager and an admirer of Freemasonry. He has been tasked to form the minds of the young GK workers.

Ø Joe Tale has resorted to legalities a number of times, to the frustration of Bp Reyes, and such legalism has actually been the cause of the split.

Ø Other IC members are very corporate and secular in their approaches.

Ø Tony Meloto of course is a marketing man. This is precisely why he has marginalized Christ and CFC in GK, to appeal to an even greater number of partners and funders who will only give to non-sectarian causes.

Ø Many are convinced that there is a political agenda, and GK is merely a tool to further the ambitions of some.

· The allegations in the above items are spiteful and totally unchristian. As Christians, we are told never to judge anyone and it is painful to see brothers speaking ill of others. Many of us are not proud of the lives we led before we began to lead renewed lives in the Catholic faith and we are taught to forgive ourselves as well as others for our past deeds. What is important are the lives we are called to lead after renewal.

· Joe Tale may be a lawyer but, unknown to many, he has in fact refused, to date, to use legal means to address the attacks. The cause of the split has never been legalism but simply the consequence of failed leadership.

· Tony Meloto has done more for the poor than those who consistently attack him. His zeal for the mission is beyond doubt. It is more than can be said for those who attack GK. Tony has also repeatedly announced that he will never run for public office; the IC has no reason to doubt or to question anyone’s motives.

(8) IC elders have lost their integrity and pastoral sense.

Ø They conducted a witch hunt against Lachie Agana, using affidavits and a lawyer in the process, not informing Lachie what the charges were, and only to conclude, after three months, that there was no serious wrongdoing but there were only procedural lapses (even these Lachie disputes).

· This is totally false. There was no witch hunt because those who filed complaints voluntarily came forward with their evidences. The IC in fact tried to keep a lid on all of these but, in the interest of good order, was constrained to hear out the complaints.

· It is untrue that Lachie was not informed about the charges. Lachie was invited to a face-to-face meeting with his accusers on May 1, 2007 at the Club Filipino. In order not to unduly intimidate him, he was not asked to face all five accusers but to discuss the issues against him one-to-one. The conclusion of “procedural lapses” was the only Christian solution at that time. The IC felt that coming out publicly with the affidavits at that particular time would further exacerbate an already festering situation. They were protecting the community.

· There were two letters given to Lachie referring to the investigations. The public letter indeed used the word “procedural lapses.” The other letter was a private one, stating both procedural and pastoral issues. The IC did not feel that this particular letter should be broadcast because they wanted to maintain confidentiality. It would be Lachie’s decision whether he would want to make this letter public.

Ø They spread the false accusation that two top leaders were having an affair, and continued to spread this, even in the face of outright denials and having no proofs at all.

· This particular rumor began in Frank’s household many years back but was swept under the rug precisely because it was then only a rumor. But the rumor persisted over the years. Frank was supposed to investigate this but nothing came out of it.

· It has not been the IC that has been spreading this rumor. They have in fact refused to accept testimonies dealing with this rumor. Based on video records and on eyewitness accounts, Gerry Padilla herself was instrumental in spreading this when she mentioned this rumor during their visit to Europe and to the United States in 2007, scandalizing those who were not previously aware of such a rumor.

Ø They maligned those who had issues with them, especially Frank Padilla, about whom they spread many outright falsehoods.

· It is strange that it is the IC that is being accused of all these things when there is no shred of proof that they were the ones responsible for “the false accusation” or for maligning Frank Padilla. The accusations were all outlined in the affidavits and are backed up by documentary evidence. The IC hopes they will never see the light of day because the community would be severely affected by such a public disclosure.

Ø They undermined the win-win agreement about the elections that was approved by the bishops, which if carried out would have prevented the split.

· The so-called win-win agreement was subject to the approval of the Elders Assembly. But the IC was committed to exhaust all means to explain and present this proposal to the elders. There was a concerted campaign, not just by the IC, but by FFL and Bishop Reyes, to try to “sell” the proposal to the assembly but the Elders Assembly chose to abide by the Vatican-approved Statutes.

· It is highly debatable whether this would have “prevented the split” or to be more precise, prevented the formation of a new association by a minority of leaders who did not recognize the IC’s leadership. The minutes of the Easter Group meeting of June 3, weeks before the elections, show that there were premeditated moves toward the break away. The fact that FFL filed incorporation papers on August 2, again way before the scheduled dialogues of August 14 and August 28, are also indicators of this premeditation.

Ø Joe Tale and Rouquel Ponte promised that they would not run for the IC if the win-win agreement was not carried out, but they did run.

Ø Joe Tale told Frank two days before the elections that he would not run for the IC, but on election day reneged on this and did run.

· Indeed, Joe and Rouquel agreed with (not promised) Frank that they will not run. They even went one step further – during their private dialogue before the election, they agreed to resign as IC members. But the other two members of the IC, together with other elders, disagreed. They felt that resigning would upset the good order of leadership since there would only be two IC members left to govern. Four IC members were needed since this was the prescribed quorum. The leaders pointed out to Joe and Rouquel that it would be quite arrogant for them to declare not to run since they didn’t even know if the election would push through.

Joe and Rouquel told Frank of this decision even prior to the plebiscite and election. It was not a decision done after the Elders Assembly decided to go ahead with the election. as insinuated by the allegation. The two brothers simply followed and respected the process prescribed under the International Statutes.

· Frank was nominated by a member of the Board of Elders. He confronted and accused two IC leaders of not nominating him for the Council because he felt his nomination should have come from the IC. This was clear proof that, despite protestations to the contrary, he was indeed interested in getting back into the Council. Of 30 nominees coming from the Board of Elders, Frank came out number 29 and was therefore not included in the short list of 5 names.

Ø They fired from their services brethren who had issues with them and who were working for restoration. They did most of this through email, or copy furnished by email, or just by text.

Ø They have not paid the retirement benefits of those who served faithfully so long, and even now are trying to find ways and means to avoid payment.

· No one was fired, not even Frank Padilla, who resigned from fulltime work way back in October 1, 2006. It would only be in July 2007, after the elections, that he would be asked to resign as International Missions Director, a position he continued to hold in spite of the fact that this is properly a function given to a Council member. He ceased to be a Council member when he resigned on February 13, 2007. The IC in fact was lenient with him on this point.

· In fact, many FFL members remained employed at CFC even though it was clear that they were already in clear violation of even the simplest tenets of loyalty and commitment, precisely because they were in fact working for the Restoration Movement. This was a clear case of conflict of interest. One case in point is Mimi David, whose husband Oland is one of the incorporators of FFL. Mimi held on to her job, resigning only on January 15, 2008. Frank’s son, Xavy Padilla and his wife Des were also allowed to stay and given the freedom to choose when they would resign.

· CFC would have had every reason to indeed fire everyone whose loyalties were questionable and if it were a private corporation, there would have been no complaints. But in fact, CFC stood silent while FFL people were getting paid out of CFC funds when they were actually working for FFL’s interests.

· CFC could have invoked Art. 3.3 of the Vatican-approved Statutes and terminated their membership with CFC, and consequently their employment at the Home Office, but the International Council wanted to give them the opportunity to exercise the more honorable option of resigning. Art. 3.3 states: “ Membership may be terminated by the leadership for any of the following reasons:

1. Serious unrepented wrongdoing

2. Gross unfaithfulness to the covenant of CFC

3. Public opposition to CFC teachings and culture, as well as official Church teachings

4. Ongoing disruption of good order in the community

5. Any other act that would seriously undermine the life and mission of CFC.”

· The only one who got a text message was Nonong Contreras and this was because Lito Tayag assumed, because of their long friendship, that this would be taken in the proper context. Lito has apologized to Nonong for this particular lapse and Nonong has accepted the apology.

· The retirement benefits should have been funded by a retirement fund that was started during the watch of Frank Padilla. When he resigned, the IC discovered that the retirement fund was depleted, already diverted to other expenses. How could the IC pay retirement benefits when there was no fund available? The IC has never said they will not pay retirement; they have repeatedly stressed that they will do so when there are funds for it. The FFL has been clamoring that they be paid out of the funds generated to pay out the almost P20 million loans incurred during the period 2000-2006. But these funds were donated by the membership, in response to a worldwide campaign to eradicate the loans, all of which were incurred under Frank’s leadership. It would have been unfair for the members’ money, which was intended to pay for the bank loans, to be diverted to pay retirement benefits of those who incurred the loans in the first place.

Ø They refuse to recognize CFC-FFL even when many bishops have already done so.

· The IC is perfectly willing to recognize FFL but not CFC-FFL because their use of the CFC name is divisive, confusing and, in many cases, deliberately misleading. From the start, the IC has stated that the harvest is plentiful and many workers are needed. It is the unfair misappropriation of the CFC name that they object to. There are some bishops who have recognized FFL, but not many.


The effects of all these are:

(4) CFC members, especially the impressionable young, will continue to be misled.

(5) CFC-GK itself will do a lot of good for the poor but will not be building the kingdom of God, and may in fact be undermining it.

Ø Tony’s goal is for the Philippines to become First World. We all know what that means in terms of loss of morality and the move to secularism and even hedonism.

(6) Those that God would have planned for CFC to evangelize and pastorally care for will not be evangelized and pastorally supported.

· It can also be said that the effects of the continued attacks of FFL against the CFC and specifically against the IC, the continued unauthorized use of the CFC name, the continued deliberate misrepresentation of their assemblies as CFC assemblies, will mislead the impressionable young.

· To say that to become First World is to lose morality and to be secular and hedonist is too simplistic and does not take into consideration the Philippines’ inherent Christian Catholic values. Also, it is quite clear that Tony Meloto refers to being First World only in terms of economic benefits.

· GK is indeed doing a lot of good for the poor. The fact that not only homes have been built, but that lives have been transformed, is ample evidence of the fact that GK is also building the kingdom of God. The statistics bear this out. The recent increases in CFC membership (meaning those who graduate from the Christian Life Program) come mainly from GK sites. Eighty-five percent of GK beneficiaries are now members of CFC.

· The attacks on GK are rooted on a desire to attack Tony Meloto. Tony has voluntarily resigned from any position. It is also conveniently forgotten that GK is not run by only one man but by the GK Board. Frank was chairman of this Board when he was CFC Executive Director and was cognizant and approved many of the policies that are now being attacked.

· It should also be emphasized that GK is only one of the many facets of CFC’s evangelistic and mission work. The work of evangelization has never been sidelined because of any undue stress on GK and on “nation-building.”


ALL THESE ADVERSELY AFFECT THE VERY LIFE AND MISSION OF THE CHURCH.

(4) We will have a whole generation of heroes but not disciples of Christ.

(5) We will have the poor liberated from material need but not saved from sin.

(6) The CFC that God has raised will not be doing its work according to His will and plan.

· The IC contends that it has never deviated from its life and mission, and that these remain firmly rooted in the Catholic faith. The poor are being helped not just materially but also spiritually. God has indeed raised CFC and as such, He will not abandon it but rather continue to guide it to do its work according to His will and plan.


CONCLUSION


CFC under the International Council has moved on in its vision and mission. We urge our brethren in FFL to do the same. We believe we can both pursue our shared mission of spreading the gospel by simply pursuing our unique ways of evangelization.

It is now quite clear that there are indeed two associations – Couples for Christ and the Foundation for Family and Life. FFL has announced that they have their own charism, their own structure and organization, their own teaching track, their own work with the poor. Because we share the same goal – of spreading God’s Word to all the corners of the world – we are truly one in mission alongside with the other Christian groups. We reach out to you in love and respect and wish you all the best in the path you have chosen.

May the Lord continue to bless you.


THE UGNAYAN MULTIMEDIA CENTER

Download the PDF document HERE.

Direct link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?scxntmzmwcw

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

hay salamat! ayan ha, malinaw na malinaw. please naman sana hindi na manggulo ang kabila. let's all move on w/ our respective callings.

Anonymous said...

It is really really sad that this is what our community has come down to. Accusations, blames, finger-pointing etc. Up to now I am still looking for the humility, love and desire for peace from EITHER side. My wife and I affiliated with FFL but I would appreciate it more if the FFL leaders would stop doing this. I want our leaders to be more humble and just work hard toward evangelization. I would also appreciate it if the IC would start correcting their mistakes and be less legalistic in their ways. I wish they would all lock themselves in a room and formulate an agreement that both sides are prohibited to say ANYTHING about the split.

To all CFC bros and sis commenting here:

We did not align with FFL because of Frank Padilla! Not everybody in FFL aligned because of him so please please stop assuming that. Please do not look to us as blind followers. We have our own minds and hearts and most of us went through a long and agonizing discernment. As brothers and sisters in Christ, I ask you to please not be judgmental of the FFL members. Let's stop telling each other who went over to the 'wrong' or 'right' side. As long as we are in the side of Christ we will never be on the 'wrong' side.

God Bless,
FFL member still hoping for a united CFC

C.D. said...

To FFL Member,

It's good to hear from you bro. Thank you for your thoughts, they are very much appreciated.

I don't believe we assume that everybody joined FFL because of FP, it's just that the most vocal of of the FFL members are the ones setting the tone. I really wish we could hear more from others who feel the same way you do. Maybe it is your voice that is needed to put a stop to all this bickering, it's your voice that the FFL leadership needs to hear, just as those in CFC are given a voice to be heard by the IC through this blog and other ways.


Thank you again, and God Bless.

Sincerely,

CD

Anonymous said...

Thank you CD for posting this. Here are the versions of how each group sees what happened and why. I think the most important issues are here if not all.

Let us choose who we believe and still respect the other. Please let us do this once and for all.

I agree with the last comment. We are still brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let us pray and respect each other.

Thanks again and God bless.

Anonymous said...

To: CD

Thanks you for posting the "REAL ISSUE and THE REAL TRUTH" in this blog, it is indeed a great information and heart-consoling.

I have nothing much to say, it is well expalined, well covered and truly stand on its own!

To:
FFL member still hoping for a united CFC:

I really honor you brother/sister for what you have said here. If only the leaders of FFL would have thought the way you think, we would have attained the peace and worked in harmony long time ago.

I just want to assure you too, that me personally do not think that all FFL have joined because of Frank. And i believe that 90% of CFC also think this way. After all, we did not join CFC because of Frank or Joe or Tony or whoever in the top leadership. But we all join for our deep love for God. It just so happen they they join also and so we meet in the same community.

It is only sad to hear that FFL leaders are trying so hard to persuade their members to believe in the allegations (as stated in their 'REAL ISSUE" paper) to justify the reason why they form a group and why they must listen to Frank and not to the IC. In short, to justify their move.

I hope you won't take me wrong if i will say this to you:

Me myself still hope for united CFC too. And i believe that the best way for me to do is it to remain in the CFC community that I originaly joined. The community that is called Couples for Christ, with Christian Life Program and not Chistian Life Seminar, where it has a familiy ministries and not young ministries, where it has YFC and not YFL, SFC and not SFL, KFC and not KFL HOLD/SOLD and not HFL/SFL and etc. I remain in in the community where i originally joined so i can be part of those who will welcome the "homecoming" of the "rebel returnees" (joke lng po..tawa naman kayo diyan.)

Actually kapag nagsibalik-loob na sila sa CFC, gagawa tayu ng International Conference sa CFC..and title, "Ang Dakilang Pagbabalik-loob"..o dba?

My suggestion to the IC, bakit hindi natin bigyan ng franchise ang group ni Frank. or magmerge na lng ulit tayu like a bsuiness corporation. Tutal uso naman ang double name.. katulad ng:
1. EQUITABLE PCI Bank
2. Magnolia- Nestle
3. WGA (William, Gothing and Aboitiz)
4. SGV (Sycip, Gorres and Velayo)

ang latest: CFC- FFL...
Pero kailangan i-register muna nila sa SEC na FFL sila at hindi CFC. After that, magpartnership tayu, para offical na matawag na CFC-FFL...

Ano sa tingin niyo mga bro. and sis?

After all we still love them and still waiting in joyful hope for their "comeback" move.

God bless kapatid at hangad ko ang muli nating pagsasama-sama sa iisang community ng Couples for Christ.

Bro. Mero :-)

Athrun Atreides said...

"Statistics show that 85% of beneficiaries in GK sites are now members of CFC."

Finally, data!

Just some questions:
Who conducted this survey? Where can this be found? When was it conducted? Does this statistic cover all GK sites...globally?

I mean no bad intention. It's just that, well, this is the first time that I've heard any statistic related to GK. Most of the time I hear "GK is touching the lives of many people" and "Many people now know more about God since GK came into their lives," but I have no idea just how many.

Finally, we have something: 85% of GK beneficiaries are CFC members.

So, I would just want to know if it would be possible to release that study. Please and thank you.

PS. You know, these figures, if released, could help a lot of students who have been itching to make studies on GK but were unable to do so. :-)

Anonymous said...

To Bro Mero

To become a franchise one should have an agreement and one vision. Unfortunately in this case there is none, FFL has its own mission and vision as of now from what they are circulating/doing it looks like they are focusing in proving and justifying what they did is right till their last breath kahit na sablay pa sya. Hay... How can you say ok you can be a part of CFC but you're always criticizing and not following those who lead you. Actually they dont want to be lead by us kasi leader lang nila ang annointed at wala ng iba!!! (breath in... breath out.... as bambis mother said... if you cant say something nice dont say anything at all...as what Mama Mary teach... pray anak...)

To FFL Member,

In the first place sine ba nagumpisa ng finger-pointing, di naman IC di ba? Actually it came to a point na IC has no other choice but to answer the easter groups accusations. Yung sa pharma na yan tagal tagal na issue na nya ano ba balik na naman ba tayo dito? Eh di ba si Frank pumirma don at may pa handshake handshake pa complete with smile sa picture eh ngayon bat IC ang mag eexplain about it? Bat kaya di sya ang magexplain and question himself bakit sya pumirma at pumayag na in the first place alam pala nyang mali. Feeling ko after this babalik tayo sa charism and founder issue na naman kasi ikot lang ng ikot eh. How I wish na your leaders will have the same way of thinking like you so we can all focus in loving (CFC theme) and giving joy (FFL theme) to others. Paki remind naman sa mga leaders nyo specially the one circulating the emails na God is not joyful with it promise... kasi we are deeply hurt by it.

WillyJ said...

G. K. Chesterton once said something to the effect that if everybody would just sit down, be quiet and think, the whole world would become Catholic. But the world won't sit down, won't be quiet, and won't think. No wonder we bring too much problems to ourselves and into this world. Now for all of us Catholics who strive to act out our faith, there is that continuing struggle and resistance in accepting the difficult objective truths. But when we do find occasion to resist the objective truth, we just have to sit down, be quiet, and think, and we will soon realize that the REAL ISSUE is within us, with our own difficulty of accepting the painful truths.

At the core of the problem lies the hardness of hearts. When I read this "Real Issue" and the CFC's response, I am reminded of that song by Barry Manilow that goes: "I pretend but deep inside I know...". With this long and drawn-out trial confronting our community, NO ONE among us can claim pure fidelity, yet the big difference lies in the the first step of personal admission of sins. It is no wonder that the highlight of our Faith, the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, starts out with a prayer of Contrition: "I confess to Almighty God, and to you my Brothers and Sisters". When sincere contrition comes, then humility, forgiveness, and yes, love for one another - all these come naturally. We should all pray for humble contrition first for ourselves, and then for everyone involved. In all this, God's work must go on.

The CFC theme for this year looks very much divinely inspired and very apt considering what we are facing ahead. That love should extend not only to the our community but to EVERYONE, as the Parable of the Good Samaritan shows.

And by the way, the title of that Barry Manilow song is: "If I could love again".

Unknown said...

I just have some words for all of us brothers and sisters...

To FFL Leaders...
“Why should we be in such desperate haste to succeed, and in such desperate enterprises? If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer.” - Henry David Thoreau

Rome wasn't built in a day, as CFC did not reach its present status in a year or two.

It's been almost a year now since you have decided to break away and form your so called Restoration Movement. So why still delve on old issues which you have been a part of? Statements like this will not heal the wounds you yourselves have created.

To all of us foot soldiers (CFC and FFL)...

What happened to our community is not of our own doing. Much of the relationships that have been broken has already caused us much pain. Majority of us did not become CFC members because of the leaders we have regarded so highly, rather because of our own volition and our own decision to make God as the center of our lives. We found the community that made significant changes in our lives. We found the community where we can fellowship with one another as real brothers and sisters.

I desire for peace as well as to live harmoniously with our brothers and sisters in FFL. Pope John Paul said in his book Crossing the threshold of Hope, "It is necessary for humanity to achieve unity through plurality, to learn to come together in the one Church, even while presenting a plurality of ways of thinking and acting, of
cultures and civilizations. Wouldn't such a way of looking at things be, in a certain sense, more consonant with the wisdom of God, with His goodness and providence?

Nevertheless, this cannot be a justification for the divisions that continue to deepen! The time must come for the love that unites us to be manifested!"

Anonymous said...

pwede pong malaman kung sinu-sino(or ilang tao) yung eligible for retirement pay?

wala namang retirement pay sa mga taong less than 60 yrs old na nagresign, tama b?

thanks

Anonymous said...

Hello CD. Thanks for keeping this blog updated. Definitely I'll read this thoroughly. Well, I am actually a YFC member, but went quite inactive for quite some time. I should say I was disturbed to hear rumors of the split sometime mid-to-late last year.

No pun intended, but how can we Catholic Christians fulfill our mission of evangelization if we ourselves make factions based on this and that. Shouldn't we focus on the reconciliation rather than the hurling of stones to each other? Difficult it may be, but I know it is POSSIBLE. Like the Catholic Church, shouldn't we highlight the similarities of the now-separated factions, and work out from there?

I know, I know. I am a bit of an outcast here since I am not taking either sides, but here's what I know: as long as one of the two does not learn how to 'forgive' the other and learn how to compromise, then there will be no unification, or healing, that will happen.


Just a thought.

Anonymous said...

Paul in his epistles clearly pointed out that our righteousness comes only from Jesus Christ and not on the basis of what we do or failed to do or else we tend to boast (Eph. 2:9).

It is a travesty that divisions exist because people are split on personalities and objectives that they see as central to their ministry. But looking at the ministry of Jesus, he not only proclaimed the good news but also attended to the physical needs of his hearers (feeding and healing them).

I can see the problem starts when we categorize sin into deadly and not so deadly. There are sins that we look at as worse kind of sins and usually these sins are the sins of others compared to our own sins. But the Bible clearly says that all sins are deadly. The "penalty of sin is death", is how Paul wrote it. Also we all are sinners, whether we admit it or not.

Now if we refrain from accepting donations from sinners, then we cannot exclude anyone, "for all have sinned." Then no ministry should be able to receive any money from anybody because everybody is a sinner, as the Bible proclaimed. My money is as bad as those who are abortionist (murderers) or homosexuals. And yet when I read scriptures, there are sins being lumped together with these two heinous sins that we don't judge as harshly. (See 1 Cor. 6:9, 1 Tim. 1:10, Rev. 22:15)

The word of scripture is our judge.

Anonymous said...

I don't want to take sides on this issue. However, I will have to reconcile this with the scriptures in Matthew 25 about the parable of the sheep and the goats. We easily get bogged down with the theological aspects of our beliefs that we overlook the practical application of our faith. Should not "mercy triumphs over judgment?" Read Matthew 25:31-46.

Anonymous said...

Remember this year is a year for all of us, that calling is a call of Love...

Love is not about a sense of feeling
Love is not even a feeling


Love is a responsibility.

As Bros, and Sis in CHrist we are called to love one another...in that case we must..


BROTHERLY CORRECT ONE ANOTHER
BROTHERLY LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER
BROTHERLY PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER

Our Love should not be just words and talk dba po? It must be true Love, which shows itself in action

We are called to Love our bretheren. This is a test of our patience, and Love for one another..

One more thing I learned in SHouT...COMPROMISING...



FOr example, if you know that you would place yourself in temptaion on being angry at someone or something if you go to that site, you are compromising.

Compromising is a sin...Titos, and titas, we must RUN AWAY from temptation, if we can't control our anger if we read this statements, then DONT READ AT ALL :)

We musn't test our holiness, God would be the one to do that..
'


So that's all po...GBU
Love you all po :)

Unknown said...

Dear FFL member still hoping for a united CFC,

These issues will not stop unless there are people from both sides who are willing and will try to correct the wrong things we see in our community or even put a stop to this accusations...be it our Leaders or Members...I don't think CFC has attacked anybody since the split came up.. In fact, we all want to move forward already.

I don't know what your group is all about but "not ending these accusation issues" will never ever be considered as evangelization nor spreading the good news.

Romans 12:9,11-12 "Let Love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good... Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer."

Anonymous said...

there is no true and real issues.

As of today April 26, 2008 there is only one issue it is all in the name!

Let there be CFC and let there be FFL. Let the Bishops make that pronouncement and there will be peace!

Amen...

Anonymous said...

CD:

You have posted a newer one after this "once and for all" post with "THE WAYS OF MICE AND MEN" which had a picture of Padilla and his desperate letter to the FFL to defend its removal from the internatonal circulation as CFC because Vatican (as he said this was hinted by Bishop Reyes) would only acknowledge one CFC - the original one that it has authorized.

That public letter from Padilla was clearly a SWAN SONG of FFL from the international scene. By encouraging individual FFLs to write letters and petitions to the Vatican, he has surrendered.

This is a welcome news! However, may it not spawn negative reactions. On the other hand, may we treat it as an opportunity to look into our individual consciences in order to firmly resolve to love our FFL brethren, including Frank Padilla himself.

CD, were you afraid that posting the article "THE WAYS OF MICE AND MEN" would create so much more charges and counter-charges? Then, it is ok, although I view it as a call for humility and magnanimity.

I suggest that even without it being reposted (maybe this is the basis for jonitanitayturin's call for FFL's blaring of trumpets to also melt our differences, as he did in another post - "love and forgiveness", i guess), PLEASE use this blog to campaign for forgiveness in the heart of every CFC. Because the battle "IDOTRCFC" (of this blog, at least) has been won...PRAISE GOD!!!

Anonymous said...

SORI, CD, that article of jonitanitayturin i cited earlier is in "Joe Tale on the Radio". Thank you.

Anonymous said...

Kapatid na Janeiro,

Ito ang kasagutan sa iyong tanong:

The government mandates retirement benefits of employees and this is embodied in Republic Act (R.A.) 7641, an act amending article 287 of Presidential Decree No. 442 (enacted into law in January, 1993), which states that private companies with 10 or more employees should provide for a retirement benefit to employees who reach age 60 and have served the company for at least 5 years. The benefit that should be paid out is at least one half-month salary per year of service.

As such, R.A. 7641 provides that a retired member should receive 1/2 month salary", for every year of service. The components of the "1/2 month salary" are:
• 15 days salary,
• 1/12 of the 13th month pay, and
• 5 days service incentive leave

Without the benefit of a formal retirement plan, the above provision of the law shall apply.

Take note that most companies in the Philippines with a formal retirement plan, meaning, with established rules, with a trustee bank, plan administrator, retirement committee, registered with the BIR as a tax exempt fund would carry some form of a voluntary separation or resignation benefit even for those resigning prior to the government mandated retirement age. The usual practice is to give a percentage of the accrued retirement benefit depending on tenure at time of separation.

If the plan of CFC has rules but is not formally managed by a third party but a self funded plan, payment of benefits for those who went over the bakod should be based on the rules set. If no rules have been set, then the provision of RA 7461 as amended by PD No. 442 should apply. At kung ganoon, mukha namang wala pa naming mga 60yrs old sa mga umlais kundi si Frank lang at si Lachie.

ACC WC (tony de la cruz)

Anonymous said...

To FFL member hoping for united CFC. Please look at the facts first and decide if you want to be FFL or CFC. Nobody wants to be in what we have ended up to be being divided. One side, CFC is just reacting to the actions of FFL Elders led by Bro. Frank Padilla.CFC side is just following the statutes of the Vatican recognition. How can we fault the I C for following Vatican. Even Bishop Gabby is ill informed he is too busy running the archdiocese, his problems started when Frank and co. started visiting him and feeding him a partial picture of what was happening. Look and analyze what side is engaged in "spinning" and half truths.I have been in the GK sites and CFC is very visible. Although prosylitizing is discouraged because some people are turned off with religion,evangilization is through actions , but that doesn't mean being un christian and not being pro-life or anti Catholic,the emphasis is on loving our neighbor specially the poor. GK is just one of the seven pillars of CFC.In helping the poor everyone is welcome.Nation building can be a powerful tool of evengilization,without God nation building will never happen, Just imagine if GK succeeds in nation building,will not God be glorified?it is indeed humbling that CFC was used as an instrument to bring the Philippines out of third world. I have heard Frank Padilla describing GK as God's gift to CFC and GK as a fruit of CFC. Now FFL has its own gift of work with the poor Restoration Village so lets all move on. FFL should stop critizing GK and focus on their gift Restoraton Village in the end,CFC with GK and FFL with RV then the poor will be the true winners.Frank Padilla should not focus on the Vatican Recognition of CFC,the stautes of said recognition states that there can only be one Global CFC.FFL will become a great community even without Vatican Recognition because God will be pleased with them because they also have Restoration Village. More power to CFC and FFL,but as for me and my house we will serve in CFC

Anonymous said...

Just another look at one of the issues and CFC response.

FROM THE REAL ISSUE:
Joe Tale and Rouquel Ponte promised that they would not run for the IC if the win-win agreement was not carried out, but they did run.

Joe Tale told Frank two days before the elections that he would not run for the IC, but on election day reneged on this and did run.

IC’S RESPONSE:
Indeed, Joe and Rouquel agreed with (not promised) Frank that they will not run. They even went one step further – during their private dialogue before the election, they agreed to resign as IC members. But the other two members of the IC, together with other elders, disagreed. They felt that resigning would upset the good order of leadership since there would only be two IC members left to govern. Four IC members were needed since this was the prescribed quorum. The leaders pointed out to Joe and Rouquel that it would be quite arrogant for them to declare not to run since they didn’t even know if the election would push through.

Joe and Rouquel told Frank of this decision even prior to the plebiscite and election. It was not a decision done after the Elders Assembly decided to go ahead with the election. as insinuated by the allegation. The two brothers simply followed and respected the process prescribed under the International Statutes.

SUMMARY: (sorry but you’re too critical with tito Frank but cannot see how weak your IC reasons are). IC is saying, (just like why they did not follow the three bishops strong recommendations), it is the Elders Assembly’s decision; they cannot do what they agreed on (na-ah… not promised) because of EA. I guess that’s why they need a lot of defenders, masyado silang mabawbaw eh -:).

Anonymous said...

comment to what anonymous said:

"SUMMARY: (sorry but you’re too critical with tito Frank but cannot see how weak your IC reasons are). IC is saying, (just like why they did not follow the three bishops strong recommendations), it is the Elders Assembly’s decision; they cannot do what they agreed on (na-ah… not promised) because of EA. I guess that’s why they need a lot of defenders, masyado silang mabawbaw eh -:)."

comment:
The elders Assembly are the top leader sof CFC; Sector Heads, Pravincial area heads, Regional Directors, Heads of Ministries, IC and BOE 230 to be exact.

To say that our leaders are mabawbaw is a perception that is the exact reason for the split. FFL view the leaders of CFC today as 'mabawbaw'so they believe in Frank and the Eastergroup.

CFC is a private association of lay people it is not a cult, and we do have rules to govern us, we do not have dictators as our leaders.

I say let FFL be FFL and CFC be CFC otherwise when you mix them both there will be one too many 'mabawbaw people who want to make sawsaw'!

aw-men!

Anonymous said...

CD,

The post “OF MICE AND MEN” that appeared last Friday, April 25, has disappeared. I wonder why. It had a picture of Padilla and quotations from his letter-appeal to FFL members worldwide to “flood” Vatican with petitions to make FFL retain the CFC ID it had controversially appropriated unto itself. Accordingingly, this was because Bishop Reyes advised Padilla that the Vatican, per Cardinal Rylko’s missive, would only recognize one CFC, the Original one that still carries the Vatican recognition, the CFC under Bro. Joe Tale!

CD, if you removed that latest post (“OF MICE AND MEN”) in order to discourage all possible sorts of negative comments, then it is OK. However, I will not also protest if you restored it because then, more in our Beloved CFC Community will be moved to humbly thank GOD for the PEACEFUL END to more that a year of stormy and troublesome relationships, as they now begin to savor the healing effects ushered in by the encouraging news that:

- the FFL SWAN SONG is being sung;

- Padilla has trumpeted SURRENDER;

- Padilla has directed all FFL members worldwide to fend for themselves, and

- this IDOTRCFC blog must forthwith help initiate procedures for a GRAND HOMECOMING, the triumphant assertion of the Love of Jesus in our hearts, the celebration of love, of brotherhood and sisterhood in Couples for Christ!

Yes, let even the “FFL” trumpets blare in order to cast away and melt all the unloving in everyone’s hearts and restore and heal all hurt feelings.

I believe this is the reason jonitanitayturin (in “Joe Tale on the Radio”) decided to get from the blacksmith his share of the ploughshares made of melted swords, his heart humming forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness…

Anonymous said...

So they agreed with Frank that they wouldn't run, then at the persuasion of others higher up agreed again to run, and informed Frank.

Surely this would only be a problem if one believed in their heart that there was no higher authority here than ...Frank.

Who is a mere man to take so much umbrage at this?

Anonymous said...

Kapatid na aw-men,

Are you really sure? I was not saying the IC is not under EA, what I was saying an IC member do not need an approval from EA if he wants to resign (or do not want to run), just like when Tony, Lachie and Frank did it. To reason out EA is a baloney.

I not fully blaming them (IC), but they are also guilty.

What I suggest to IC is just be quiet, so the members will have these perception that IC just want to love, (music please) they are busy doing work for the poor, the don’t have time to malign people (no those are not from them, yeah). Because when they speak (now they are called THE UGNAYAN MULTIMEDIA CENTER? :) , it does not have substance. Again, I am saying, that made you have a job – to defend their reasons and blame all to tito Frank and FFL.

Anonymous said...

I will say it again for the sake of clarity, the first time for the heart this second time for the mind to understand:

yes oh-men i say it again:

"I say let FFL be FFL and CFC be CFC otherwise when you mix them both there will be one too many 'mabawbaw people who want to make sawsaw'!"

dare i strike a difference. cfc is cfc and ffl is ffl and the twain shall never meet. this is not a job for us - to defend cfc, it is our life that ffl is destroying!

to end-
just drop the letters cfc and we will have peace. stand on your own ffl and i will be in awe-men!!!

Unknown said...

Oh-man, I hope you're not misrepresenting Tito Frank here. When you say it like that, parang lumalabas nagtampo si Tito FP dahil the EA wants na tumakbo pa rin sina Tito Joe and Tito Roquel at pinagbigyan/sinunod nila yung EA.... (what's more mababaw than that?)

And if CFC has a lot of defenders, that's just because a lot of us really love our community.... committed enough to stay and lovingly correct whatever mistakes were made....Not do an "Oh, im-not-part-of-that-group, they-did -it, I'm-HOLY, I'm-saving-CFC" stunt...

It's been a year already, and some people just can't get over it and move forward... I wouldn't be surprised if FFL split up someday...really...

Anonymous said...

To aw-men and nick, mga dating kapatid, let me just say that I heard you and I disagree.

Aw-men, about let CFC be CFC and FFL be FFL. Wow, I heard it very clear twice. Okay, okay, but can you do that yourself too? Just check your last post if you fail to attack FFL, see?

Masakit mga kapatid ang maghiwalay, lalo masakit kung hindi kayo (sige na nga, tayo) tumitigil pag atake dito. Magtataka ka ba kung may FFL na sasagot minsan-minsan? Yeah, you’re right, you’re just defending -:).

Anonymous said...

Good day, medyo mahaba ito mga kapatid. A response to FFL's rejoinder to "THE REAL ISSUE...THE REAL TRUTH"

CFC: The crisis was brought about by a simple fact- a leader resigned changed his mind, and when he cannot come back to the position – decided to break away from the community. All the issues … came after the fact of the resignation that went awry.
FFL: Resigned and changed his mind? That is far-fetched to imagine
Mero: Well, even I myself too cannot imagine how did a leader who has lead us for the past 26 years have resigned (when he knows that there are problems going on), prayed over the remaining council members, and then attack them afterwards.

CFC: There have been no confirmation of the “veering-away” issues, even after the almost a year, because CFC under the IC has never deviated from its Vatican-approved Statues nor the mission and vision that have shaped the community from the time of its inception.
FFL: Joe Tale and Roquel Ponte actually admitted the mistakes to the Vatican and so were required to publish a public apology in the newspaper.
Mero: What specific sort of mistakes have they admitted? Is it not right that Frank should also apologize, since those mistakes happened during the time that Frank was still part of the IC and besides it is a collective responsibility they say?
CFC: The only reason the Catholic Church is being affected is because of FFL’s insistence that CFC has disobeyed the Bishops, an issue that is highly debatable and is now a non-issue, given the dialogues that have been conducted between CFC leaders and the Bishops concerned.
FFL: Bishop Gabriel Reyes’ report in January to the CBCP actually said categorically that IC under Joe Tale disobeyed the bishops.
Mero: So what happened in the Aug 28, 2007 dialogue then? What did Bishops Afable, Pacana and other members of the Sangguniang Layko (whom Bishop Reyes have chaired) have said regarding this complain? Bishop Reyes made a report to the CBCP. Is this a collective report made by the Sangunniang Layko?

CFC: This is precisely our argument- that there can only be one CFC. We wholeheartedly agree with our FFL brethren on this point.
FFL: Agreed, If there is only one CFC, it is the one that has not “veered-away” and is faithful to its authentic charism, led by its founder.
Mero: Now its getting clearer, that your leader only want full-power and control. Since when in all our teachings and in the statutes that we have mentioned we have a founder? I think I have heard this “founder issue” only when you broke away? And to justify your move to break away and can claim that you are the true CFC, you have created a founder, which your leader have earlier denied that he is the founder!

CFC: As far as understanding Church authority and hierarchy, CFC, for the past 20 years or so has been following principles and guidelines relating to its relationship with the Church based on what Frank Padilla have been teaching- His book “Friend of Foe” outlines this very clearly.
FFL: The wording of this is quite precise. For the first 20 years, the true CFC principles were followed,. It was in the next 5 years where the veering away happened and intensified, leading to the conflict.
Mero: And when did the book “friend of foe” was written, .was it in the first 20 years or within the so- called “next 5 years”? I don’t think it was in written in the first 20 years of CFC. Since this was written in few years ago, then when we say we obey Church authority and hierarchy according to that book, we did not veer away. But if we veer away, then that book has taught us to “veer away”. ..and who is the author? Bung!

CFC: The IC has repeated, ad nauseam, their contention that the election was pushed through not because of the IC’s disobedience to the Bishops but because of obedience to the Vatican-approved statutes and to the authority of the higher body – the Elder Assembly.
FFL: Ad Nauseam, Bishop Reyes, has repeatedly said including official report to the CBCP, that the IC under Joe Tale had disobeyed them. The IC’s obedience was to its corporate by-laws, being very legalistic. The bishops have said that the elections were held not in communion with them, which is also the requirement of the statues.
Mero: So, there is inconsistency now with regards to the bishop’s report? And are you saying that, there is also inconsistency among the bishops? So, what really happened during the Aug 28 dialogue then? What do other bishops who were member of the Sangguniang Layko, said about the issue of the election?

CFC: During the Aug.28 dialogue, Bishop Reyes, acknowledged that their recommendation was simply that- a recommendation that the IC was indeed free to accept or reject. He affirmed that CFC is administratively under the direct supervision of the Vatican and that CBCP has recommendatory functions with regards to CFC, and only in cases of doctrine and morals. He stated that, at the point in time, even with the complaints file by FFL, the CBCP know no reason to write to the Vatican about these complaints.
FFL: This just shows how the IC does not understand the Church’s ways. Indeed, they were strong recommendation, and not command because CFC was Vatican-approved, But do you reject the Church’s strong recommendations? Who is there to protect CFC when the conflict was the very top, at the level of IC? The CBCP, through Bishop Reyes did write the Vatican and indeed sent regular reports to the Vatican.
Mero: True, CBCP thru Bp. Reyes must sent regular reports to the Vatican. That is a part of their responsibility anyway. But are all their reports are purely about CFC matters and nothing else? I don’t think so.
Correction please, there were only 4 IC members before the election, and the four of them in the top do not have any conflict. And even today, the 7 members of the IC do not have any conflict.
The Church protect CFC when there is conflict in the top, YES, but there was no conflict among the four. The only one who causes conflict is the one who resigned and is no longer a council member, and no longer in the top.
CFC: The IC has always stood by its admonition to the entire CFC community to “Be Still” in the faces of attack and relentless negative emails. It has no control over blogs (which are almost contributed by anonymous person) Many council statements were in fact issued that cautioned the members against unloving acts and enjoined them to relate to FFL members in Christian Love.
FFL: The attacks against Frank and CFC-FFL came from the very top and carried on by their subordinates. They also attacked those who affiliated with FFL. Ask any FFL members anywhere in the world if they have experienced alleged love that the IC preaches.
Mero: Who wrote the paper entitled “CFC and GK3” which was a declaration of war and an obvious attack to GK and to Frank’s closest friend (kuno) Tony? Who blew the trumpets of war? CFC as soldiers and defenders of their charism have stood up even against the caution of the IC since they were emotionally affected by these paper! If there was no malicious intent regarding the “CFC and GK 3”, then Frank should have privately discussed it with Tony being the Exec. Dir of GK that time, being his closest friend in the council, and being the defendant of Tony. The paper should have been discussed only within the circle of the IC before the 3 resigned!
Correction please, you also ask the CFC members how aggressive the FFL to them!

CFC: The CFC Statutes which approved by the Vatican serves as the IC’s sacred guide in steering the community, particularly, in times of confusion and disagreements. On the question whether there can be two CFCs, the statues are clear- there is only one clear and there can only be ONE CFC WORLDWIDE. The following articles of the statutes are pertinent to this issue.
FFL: So the IC is saying that the many bishops who accept- CFC-FFL are wrong or ignorant?
Mero: So the FFL means to say that those bishops who accepted only one CFC are the ones who are wrong and ignorant? What I think is, FFL have misled the bishops and have fueled the issue, raised the administrative issue to a “moral and doctrinal issue” so they have all the reason to include the bishop, put the bishop in the front line and FFL hides under the cassock of the bishops so they will feel immaculate. C’mon, do not include the bishop in this argument which you already did.

CFC: Our dear Bishops recognizes our statutes. Cardinal Rylko upholds this provision of having just one in the world, as stated in his letter to the IC dated April 3, 2008, wherein he clarified that no other association may use the name CFC.
FFL: Oh, you mean the alleged letter to Joe Tale who wanted to change the Vatican recognition from CFC to CFCGMFI? I suppose Joe was recognizing that indeed we in CFC-FFL are part of the Vatican recognition and so he wanted to limit it only to the Philippine Corporation, which they lead. Cardinal Rylko chided them for this, right?
Mero: Well, Joe does not need to change the recognition from CFC to CFCGMFI, because the CFC and CFCGMFI are on the same entity. Tell me Frank, when CFC applied for a Vatican recognition some years ago, what you mean by the statement in the statutes which states: “there can only be one CFC and there can be only ONE CFC WORLDWIDE”. The legal name of CFC was CFCGMFI; tell me that these are two separate entities in the Philippines. Which country apply for Vatican-recognition, which country is the over-all center of leadership for the whole CFC, isn’t it Philippines? I do not think Joe recognizes FFL as part of the Vatican recognition in the IC’s letter to the Cardinal, it is just a polite way of saying “Please withdraw the name CFC in your group!”

CFC: We are sorry if our FFL brethren do not understand the vision and mission of CFC and its application to GK. We would like to remind them that the basic mission of CFC for at least the past ten years have been “bringing gad tiding to the poor” and GK……..
FFL: We in CFC-FFL understand very well that God intended GK to be part of the evangelistic work of CFC. That is how it started. But now it no longer is.
Mero: Ohhh..c’mon! That is how it started and continues to be the same until now. Except that you are saying “it no longer is” because you are not in the top position to govern GK. To be exact you do not have a full power and control which you seek.

CFC: CFC is committed to following the Vatican-approved statutes that call for it to espouse Total Christina Liberation. The work with the poor has always stressed that transformation of their physical surroundings must be preceded by renewal of hearts. This is the basic reason why CFCC member immerse themselves with the GK sites not simply to build homes, but to ensure that Christian values formation are carried out and Christian living is taught.
FFL: Many CFC members, knowing their mission indeed evangelized. But the overall leaders of GK eventually stressed the social to almost the total exclusion of the spiritual, to hardly mentioning CFC, to doing charity without Christ.
Mero: So now it came out from FFL’s mouth! They say that “CFC members indeed evangelized, but the over all leaders have not?. Who were the over-all leaders of GK before the crisis, Chairman-Frank Padilla, Exec. Dir. Tony Meloto, National Coord. Luis Oquinena, Issa Santos, and many others. So FFL tagged them as overemphasizing social over spiritual. Naaahhhh! When Frank resigned he attacked the remaining leaders of GK thru his paper entitled “CFC & GK3”. So this shows a pure leadership war which Frank repeatedly denied! The sad thing is they involved us in the lower rank by peddling lies to gain our sympathy and ask us to withdraw our support from those who are currently seated. Warning! Frank is again appealing to the international community to bombard the Vatican with letters concerning the issue so he can gain the favor of the Vatican. He succeeded with Bishop Gabby Reyes and CBCP, now he is bringing the war all the way up to the Vatican!

CFC: GK caretaker teams are committed to GK because of their love of God and love of country.
FFL: Is that why those who were serving in GK and who moved to FFL were removed from their service, even if they still wanted to serve God and the poor? It is ironic that everyone is welcome to serve in GK except CFC-FFL?
Mero: Ohhhh, c’mon! Very well said eh? Who was removed from service…? Name them…Nonong Contreras? Wow…. Lito Tayag have resolved that clearly. Since when FFL becomes onion skinned? Everyone is welcome to join GK and even CFC. But how can we welcome FFL who have declared war against GK and CFC? I though you do not want to join us because we “veer-away” and you do not want to join the rank of sinner right? Are you serious that you really wanted to join GK or it is only hypocrisy?

CFC: CFC believes that GK is not only about nation building. It goes deeper than this…
FFL: Amen. GK Should not only be building a nation but the kingdom of God. GK should not only talk about heroism but about holiness. But you do not.
Mero: We call HEROES those who offered their life for their country, and we call SAINTS those who offered their life for CHRIST and His Church. Piety won’t guarantee that you will become holy. Holiness is a gift from Jesus who is the source of all holiness. We preach Jesus not by words but by action and this you cannot accept that is why you left.

CFC: CFC has indeed recognized GK’s potential for evangelization. Before homes were built, caretaker teams already conduct values formation programs culminating in the CLP. Statistics shows….
FFL: Whatever evangelization was undertaken is a credit to the CFC members who know what their mission was. But the top GK leadership has veered away from this mission and evangelization today in GK sites is quite weak.
Mero. Again, from their own mouth FFL says, that CFC members did what their mission was and GK top leadership has veered away. So meaning, it is not the whole of GK that veered away, only the top leadership, BUT NOT THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF CFC VOLUNTEERS. Does it conclude that all of us in CFC and GK veered away because of our top leadership? In this statement of FFL, it is very clear that they attack the leaders. So again, there is a conflict in leadership style contrary to what Frank have denied several times. Since he was not successful in dethroning leaders who he don’t like, he appeal for sympathy to the general membership locally and worldwide and ask for their withdrawal of support to the IC.

CFC: The allegations in the above items are spiteful and totally unchristian. As Christians we are told to never judge anyone and it is painful to see brothers sp0eaking ill of others. Many…
FFL: We agree, and will be the first to repent if we have judged anyone. But tell us, has Boy M rejected his New Age ways of thinking? We are concerned because he has been tasked by Tony Meloto to from the minds of the young minds in GK.
Mero: So this was a pure leadership war, originally between the Melotos (backed up by the Montelibanos) against the Padillas? The 4-man council was supposedly the arbiter of the two opposing towers in CFC; however the 4 man council fell in the crossfire and now became the subject of attack by the Padillas and his FFL?



CFC: Joe Tale may be a lawyer, but unknown to many, he has in fact refused, to date, to use legal means to address the attacks. The cause of the split has never been legalism but simply the consequence of failed leadership.
FFL: Failed leadership? Then you must mean the 7-man IC that share a co-equal leadership. But then, was it not Joe’s legalism regarding the holding of election through either the original bishops’ strong recommendations and or later through the win-win agreement? If Joe had just set aside his legalism, then CFC would not be split today.
Mero: Ohh..i thought the reason why Frank, Tony and Lachie resigned was their way of repentance for the failure of leadership? They collectively assumed the sins of the 7 of them. So you mean, their collective repentance have not chastised the 7 man IC? One of the 7 (whom I do not know) proposed that the seven of them resigned, but Frank says, 3 is enough and the 4 should continue to maintain stability in the top leadership. What happened next? “CFC and GK 3” paper came out!
Correction please: The cause of the split could not be blame to Joe for he himself is subject to the higher legislative body of CFC which is the Elders Assembly. Have FFL only respected the wisdom and discernment of the Elders Assembly, humbly accepted the result of the referendum and defended it to the Bishops, we would not have this split.


CFC: Tony Meloto has done more for the poor than those who consistently attack them. His zeal for the mission is beyond doubt. It is more…
FFL: Who attacks Tony? Not us in CFC-FFL…
Mero: And who wrote “CFC and GK3” which was a declaration of war?
FFL: …Frank has been the one who supported Tony the strongest and the longest. Please ask Tony… But unfortunately Tony has veered away.
Mero: Before he was, but now the great accuser. Now again, in this statement they have made it clear that it was Tony veered away. Isn’t it that Tony resigned? Why include the whole GK and CFC as the one who veer away?

CFC: This is totally false. There was no witch-hunt because those who filed the complaint voluntarily came forward with their evidences. The IC in fact has tried to keep a lid on all these…
FFL: It was a witch hunt because Lachie was not informed about the charges for many months, because affidavits were used, because a lawyer was used, because complaints was solicited among Home Office Employees. When a complaint is aired….
Mero: Again my dear brothers and sister in the CFC community, try to look closely on this issue. Is this a doctrine and moral issue that the Bishop’s need to intervene? Of course, when the whole process of filing of complaints, hearing of complaints and investigation of complains were done, those people who are affected reacted negatively as if they were judged already! So, is it possible that because they were hurt of such complaints they incorporated it to the moral and doctrine issue? What do you think of this …a diversionary tactics? Why not face the complaints and if you are not guilty, move on!

CFC: It is untrue that Lachie was not informed about the charges. Lachie was invited to a face-to-face meeting…
FFL: We rest our case. The charges surfaced on February and the IC as you say made him face his accuser on May 1, more than two months after when the Home office was already in turmoil. Lachie does not have any problem…. Christian Solution? The truth is IC had nothing with Lachie. It indeed was a witch hunt. Not coming out publicly with affidavits? Indeed the IC did not, because it did not want to expose its errors to the community. They were protecting themselves.
Mero: So you can see here that FFL was really in an angry posture when they brought the matter to the Bishop claiming there was a veering away. They used the acceptance of fund of GK from pharmaceutical companies and other lapses in GK as their tool to vengeance against the leaders whom they thought have come against them because Lachie was investigated. They incorporate it in a moral and doctrinal issue and brought the matter with the Bishops and to gain the bishops sympathy. It should have been resolved within the ranks of the leaders, particularly the Home Office and the Metro Manila, but Frank made an appeal to the International Community for withdrawal of support. Such disagreements are very common to any organizations in the community, but to form a new group and claim that they are the true one and the other one veered away…is not a solution.
IC did not want to expose its errors to the community? And what about Frank, what sort of errors did he exposed in the community? None! So you mean he’s perfect in running the CFC for 25 years? What about the almost 25M loan acquired? Where are the retirement funds? Now Frank has the nerve to expose the errors of the CFC community, because he is not in the IC anyway!

CFC: Frank was nominated by member of the Board of Elders, He confronted and accused the two IC leaders of not nominating him for the council because he felt his nomination would come from the IC. This was a clear proof that…
FFL: This is not believable, If Frank is interested in power or position then why did he resigned?
Mero: If Frank then is not interested, why did he not trust the wisdom of the four council whom he prayed over during the MCG Teaching? If he is not interested, why is he now claiming to be the founder of CFC, or if not him personally claiming it, why he did not stop his followers from claiming that he is the founder?

CFC: It can be also be said that the effects of continued attacks of FFL against the CFC and specifically against the IC, the continuous use of unauthorized name, …., will mislead the impressionable young.
FFL: As usual you invert the truth, It is the IC and its subordinates who continuously attack Frank and the CFC-FFL. We in turn busy moving on and doing God’s work.
Mero: Busy doing God’s work? Is it a God’s work, when Frank appeal again to the international community to write a letter to the Vatican? To sneak a letter which supposedly intended to Joe Tale from the Vatican, and trying to construe it according to FFL’s favor and if not satisfied broadcast it to media? Is this doing God’s work?
IC continuously attacking Frank and the FFL? Who broadcasted the letter to the media? Who mislead the bishop? And now you are going against Bishop Arguelles because he is Joey’s brother? And how about Frank? Bishop Reyes and the diocese sits under the Padilla’s estate- Antipolo. So you go against any Bishop who do not agree with you eh?

CFC: GK indeed is doing a lot for the poor. The fact that not only homes….85% of the GK beneficiaries are now CFC members.
FFL: … Does this mean that indeed evangelization in parishes and outside GK sites have been neglected?
Mero: While members who went to GK sites do a lot of evangelization effort for the poor, what do the critics of GK do outside the GK sites and into the parishes? While it is true that membership in GK sites increases, what did you do to increase CFC membership in the parishes? Why blame GK only, you are also part and parcel of the diminishing number in CFC? Don’t be hypocrite FFL.

God bless everyone!

Bro Mero ;-)

WillyJ said...

"Real Truth", in summary:

1. CFC under the IC is against God’s work , against God’s will, against God’s plan.
2. CFC’s very existence adversely affects the Roman Catholic Church.
3. CFC is engaged in serious wrongdoing, it is an infidel to the Catholic Church.
4. Therefore, the Catholic faithful must renounce CFC under its present leadership, according to FFL.

These 4 things pretty much summarizes this document "Real Truth" being circulated by FFL. Either I do not understand English or have very poor comprehension (or both), pardon me, but that is the way I read it. Anyone please read the document again, specially the first two paragraphs and the concluding paragraph. I ask the author from FFL to please correct my conclusion that, in so many words: CFC is an enemy of the Church, as seen from this FFL perspective. On the other hand, I have yet to hear CFC-IC in its formal capacity or even members in their unofficial capacity claim that FFL, as an organization of the faithful, is an enemy of the Catholic Church. We may not come to an agreement on past issues with elections, social work, donations, charisms, etc., but this one steps up the ante by condemnation as in: ..."a recognition of two CFCs might just result in legitimizing the wrongs that have been committed and institutionalizing what ultimately will work against God’s intent...adversely affect the very Life and Mission of the Church... The CFC that God has raised will not be doing its work according to His will and plan" – those are BIG words.

Such a serious condemnation can only rightfully come from the Vatican, unless beyond my knowledge, FFL has been appointed as Philippine judge and spokesman for the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. We know for a fact this is farthest from the truth, last time we checked, CFC under the IC still retains Vatican recognition. As this is written, a document from FFL "Real Truth – Response – Rejoinder" is now being circulated which affirms FFL’s condemnation of CFC under its present leadership, even after the IC has already responded to it.

If CFC and FFL cannot possibly work together in form, it is fervently hoped that they can at least both work together in substance. By working together in substance, it is meant that both pursue their respective charisms separately and work in an atmosphere at least detached from constant recriminations, while recognizing each other as partners in Christ. Sadly, FFL seems to have shut the door even to working separately while remaining united in the substance of our faith. For FFL, CFC under its current leadership should be out and denied legitimacy. FFL has judged CFC seriously guilty of going against the Catholic faith and has pronounced condemnation. How can you now say "let’s move on"? They are in fact saying CFC should be out of the Church. Read it again: "...a recognition of two CFCs might just result in legitimizing the wrongs...". So, do not recognize CFC, only FFL. This is what the "Real Issue" really amounts to. True? The irony of it is everybody keeps on saying we should move on. Sure, but at the same time, condemn CFC? But IC already apologized and cleared up matters with the bishops. What more do they want? A crucifixion?

I say even with all these disappointments, I personally consider FFL brethren as partners in Christ. I maintain we are all part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. In much the same way that I consider K of C, CWL, LOJ, BLD, and other faith-based organizations as partners in Christ, that is the correct way to move on. Christ did not promise that His Church will be filled with indefectible people, but He promised his vigilant protection to the end of days. There will always be problems and conflicts along the way, yes, but Jesus promised to send us a Helper, and we trust and feel reassured with that. I hope and pray everybody would start feeling the same way. Only then can we really move on.

Anonymous said...

hhhmmmm. most issues(GK issue, disobedience issue, witch hunt issue etc) na namention sa nilabas ng Ugnayan Multimedia ay resolved na. Eto na lang yung unresolved issues:

1. CFC name
2. Church position on accepting donations.(parang bawal nga ata, pero hndi ko pa ksi nakikita ung explanation kun bakit bawal so di pa ko satisfied :) )
3. LNP issue(more familiarly known as "founder" issue)

pano naging resolved? e di ba nga ang solution ay ang separation (with merging in the future sana).
I personally do not agree this is a good solution but that is the decision of our leaders.. w/ the blessings of the bishops..
Syempre may consequence ang decision na yan. w/c brings to the 1st unresolved issue.

CFC name. CD explained it. Inaantay ko pa yung next issue. :) I will play the devil's advocate and "defend" CFCFFL.
1. CFC as brand name - tama nga, bakit naman nga ba gagawa ng bagong brand name, e meron na nga? The actual issue is both sides FIRMLY BELIEVE they have a claim on the name CFC. Understandable, ksi BOTH sides spent a good portion of their lives building that name. Separation e, so pagtataluhan kung paano hahatiin ang ari-arian.

Oo nga, the CFC statutes sides with IC, but analogy sa constitution, it is just a piece of paper unless it is upheld by the Government, but the best is for the citizens to uphold it themselves.
So the resolution of this name issue lies on either of the 2.
1.1 The member themselves live by the statutes(citizen analogy). This is of course not happening now because a significant(not necessarily in number) people that calls themselves CFC are not living by this statutes.
1.2 The BODY(vatican) that APPROVED the statutes, DECISIVELY and VIGORIOUSLY defend and uphold it decision(government analogy). This of course leads to the next point of CD.
2. Vatican recognition-Why is Frank still the member/representative of CFC in the council of the laity? Unless Vatican is CRYSTAL CLEAR on its stand on the separation, this issue will go on.
3. same name causes confusion/misleads people - maybe masyado akong "mathematical" pero kitang kita "CFC" =/ "CFC-FFL"( "=/" means not equal to hehe). Iba rin yung logo(specially ung trumphet). Yes, maraming similarities, like the "CFC" sa pangalan saka yung "couples" logo, but that is there to emphasize the claim to the CFC name(so iikot na naman yung usapan, just refer sa 1 sa itaas). Even the teachings, mag-emphasize na yata sila kay mama Mary(may bagong book e hehe). To judge them as "intentionally misleading people" is I believe not very good because we cannot know their intentions, only God knows and only God will judge them justly. So I choose to see the goodness in them, their were good enough to put an "FFL" in their "CFC".


Church position on accepting donations - I agree with tito Tony Meloto that the church needs a consistent, decisive stand on this.


LNP issue(more familiarly known as "founder" issue) - Hindi ko sya tinatawag na "founder" issue, ksi frankly, who cares kung sino ang founder? One of the things I like about this community is that it doesnt have a prominent figure(like a well known community "active" in politics :) )this is slowly changing for both sides. (sana lang hindi na si bro Joe Tale ang next cfc head sa next election para anonymous pa din :) )
The bigger issue is, na-mention ng isang blogger dito, na "Did CFC leaders then STOLE CFC from LNP?" Oo nga nagbati na ang CFC and LNP, but contrition also includes returning the things that were stolen di ba? It will be really good for the IC to admit if the "IC"(not necessarily the present members, but as an institution) sinned or not and their plans for restitution if sinned.

Thanks pla dun s sumagot sa question ko sa last post ko.

We will start a CLP this sunday, and an SFC conference monday. please pray for us.

God bless!

Anonymous said...

To Bro. Mero,

I praise God for your solid defense of CFC.

Anonymous said...

MGA FFL Leaders specially in the Phils (FRANK) go on spinning and underground, go to Bishops around the world and Vatican, KAwawang Frankie Boy.

FFL- Frank Failed Leadership, a weak leader.

Kung hindi makaya na ang subordinates aaslis na lang, formed a new one.

Parang asawa (husband) umalis sa asawa (wife). Hiwalay na, INIWANAN and PROBLEMA, Didn't solve the problem within and went and CRY to the BISHOPS.

IS THIS A GOOD LEGACY TO OUR CHILDREN?

ITo nakikita sa ating mga anak ngayon!

Anonymous said...

FFL REjoinder...

wala kayong imik sa 50 million DOH issue?

That means... CONFIRMED diba?

Saan na yang PERA na yan, Walang AUDIT?

SAan na anong Pinag gagamitan sa REtirement FUnd? FRANk will you answer this?

Anonymous said...

TRUTH vs FACT

It's really sad that it has boiled down to this. The thing about facts is that they can be manipulated. Facts can be interpreted. Facts can be spun around. But not the Truth brothers and sisters. With the Truth - it's EITHER you're guilty or you're not. No grey areas.

In any courtroom, any good lawyer can twist, manipulate, re-interpret, re-establish and spin the facts of the case to work in their favor. Why? Because this is what they do! And facts are nothing but details that will be allowed in court by the judge. But not the Truth brothers and sisters.

And what is the Truth? Jesus Christ is the Truth. And how do we know this? He said so..."I am the way, the truth and the life". Jesus didn't say he was "A way", "A Truth" -- He said, He is "THE Way", "THE Truth", brothers and sisters. Jesus Christ is NOT a popular opinion.

God bless
Jacobo Pumaling
Northeast, GK Advocate

Anonymous said...

From Northeast - USA

Yes, we are not leaving CFC. CFC is our way of life. We will face all the blows, accusations and redicule from FFL. And we will move on with what God has commanded us to do - to love everyone, especially the brothers and sisters who left us. We will bring Christ to others without counting the numbers, what is important is the love in our hearts.

Anonymous said...

Whichever one who is perfect and committed NO SIN, NO MISTAKE May Cast the FIRST STONE.

FFL - IF you can then DO IT if not then MOVE ON and Leave us Alone.

Even Without Vatican Recognition, we continue to SERVE the LORD and NEVER LEAVE CFC.

From Western Canada

Anonymous said...

How the new Pharisees undermine the Roman Catholic Church
AS I WRECK THIS CHAIR By William M. Esposo
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
There are true Christians among Catholics, but there are also Catholics who are not even Christians at all. Sometimes, even the shepherds of Christ’s Church are themselves lost sheep.

In fact, history documents many instances when even the top ranking leaders of Christ’s Church have been behind atrocious sins and crimes against humanity – the so-called Holy War and the Inquisition are just two examples of these. The late Pope John Paul II and the current Pope have been apologizing for all sorts of reasons over the sins of commission and omission by the Catholic Church in the past.

The Catholic Church has a track record of suppressing not only those of other faiths but even its own most holy people. Catholics who provided unusually outstanding contributions to bringing more people to Christ have been put under scrutiny, doubt and in the case of some, even torture.

Mystics and holy people like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Padre Pio, St. Joan of Arc and even Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement, were subjected to varying degrees of unjust pressure, rebuke, reprimand or punishment from Church officials.

Sad to say, we have the same breed of confused clergy today mouthing condemnation and raising alarums of eternal damnation against members of the Catholic congregation who happen to outdo them in their avowed mission to win hearts and souls for Christ.

Even sadder still is when a former head of a Catholic lay movement manages to get a Cardinal at the Vatican to reprimand his former group – a group which has been winning accolades worldwide. I refer of course to Frank Padilla, former head of the Couples of Christ (CFC), now seen by loyal CFC members as the whisperer of false tidings to Bishop Gabriel V. Reyes, head of the CBCP National Council of the Laity, and his Vatican counterpart, Stanislaw Cardinal Rylko.

Padilla has claimed that Gawad Kalinga (GK), the CFC social action movement, has veered away from its evangelization focus. He found support in Bishops Gabby Reyes and Soc Villegas. But despite Bishop Reyes’s clout in the Council of the Laity, the CBCP eventually sustained the present setup of CFC and disallowed Padilla to take the CFC name with his breakaway group.

Per CFC sources, Bishop Reyes and Padilla utilized their access to Cardinal Rylko who then issued the controversial Vatican letter seeking an apology from CFC and for GK to maintain its Catholic focus.

A wide range of issues were raised by the new Pharisees. CFC and GK have since refuted these allegations, something most of the Bishops believed and accepted.

But underneath all these accusations hurled against GK is the reported proposal of Bishop Reyes for GK to centralize its funds with the rest of Church funds. Since donors had given support on the belief that this will be used to boost GK social action, the proposal was therefore out of the question.

It is a fact that many big philanthropists will not donate to anything remotely connected with religion. Placing GK funds with Church funds can altogether prove to be a counterproductive measure – that’s if it does not lead to another Monte de Piedad fiasco.

But this makes us wonder if all this hypocrisy that emulates nothing but the Pharisees is at bottom all about money. Considering the culture of greed that prevails in our land, it’s not surprising if evil eyes may have been attracted to the over P350 million annual cash donations GK is now known to generate from over 300 partner firms.

GK has endeared itself to the mainstream Catholics and non-Catholics alike all over the world for its effective approach in making Christ relevant to the poor and the homeless. GK is also present and is well-loved in poor Muslim communities in Mindanao.

GK is proving that authentic spirituality is what effectively builds loving homes and communities, not the mere preaching of Catechism. By sharing true Christian love, Gawad Kalinga is effectively bridging the biblical divide — the divide that has driven away worshipers and is so clearly visible in the waning numbers of church-goers.

The Pharisees also placed the CBCP in an awkward and vulnerable position. The Bishops preach that gambling is evil and yet Bishops and Cardinals are known to derive a big chunk of funds from gambling operations of PCSO and Pagcor. How can they provide spiritual inspiration to the faithful when they themselves are confused about their own perspectives?

We have seen vast examples of spiritual social activists who have transcended religious conditioning — Mother Theresa, Chiara Lubich, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., to name a few. Instead of dividing people and passing judgment on others, they worked to integrate differing views and created a united and caring community. They shared common virtues: they were humble, loving, focused and sincere.

Christ did warn us: “Beware the devil quoting scripture.” The new Pharisees and their Vatican ally, Cardinal Rylko, cannot even be consistent with what Pope Benedict XVI has been pushing — social action.

http://philstar.com/index.php?Opinion&p=49&type=2&sec=25&aid=2008042866

Anonymous said...

DEAR BROTHERS & SISTERS IN FFL,

REMEMBER: WHEN JESUS DINED WITH THE SINNERS, THE TAX COLLECTORS, ETC..THE PHARISEES CRITICISED HIM..TODAY WHEN GK ACCEPT DONATIONS FROM THE SINNERS (KUNO) SOME BISHOPS COMPLAINED!..OR ARE THEY JEALOUS FOR THEY HAVE NOT DONE WHAT GK HAS DONE? MAY GOD BLESS US ALL!

Anonymous said...

Some people get too caught up in telling people how they should live their lives, instead of looking at Jesus' life and emulating how he lived his.

The bottom line is; you all have your own minds, you all have your own feelings. Pray, make your own judgments, and go with what makes the most sense for you instead of blindly repeating what is being told to you.

Your faith is one of the biggest decisions in your life and deserves much due diligence and research. When was the last time you bought a car just because someone told you that it was nice and doesn't veer? Don't you have to read up, "test drive", and TAKE YOUR TIME to learn everything you can. Doesn't your faith deserve as much and more?

Anonymous said...

tanong lang po, who gave us the right na pigilan ang mga 'makasalanan'(pharma co) sa paggawa ng mabuti? ang mga 'makasalanan' po ba ay wala ng karapatan na gumawa ng mabuti? may itinuro ba ang ating Panginoong Jesukristo na i-condemn ang mga 'sinners' at pabayaan sila sa kanilang ginagawang kasalanan? hindi ba ang dahilan kung bakit tayo nagpapa- CLP o CLS ay para ilapit kay Kristo ang mga makasalanan? hindi ba't ito rin ang mission ng CFC (renewing the face of the earth)(di ko lang alam ang mission ng ffl)?

wag po naman sana nating pigilan sila sa paggawa ng mabuti, 'makasalan' man po sila, it is their way of going back to God and giving glory to him. let's just pray that in sooner time, they will be renewed! healing is a long procees...bro. ariel eb2a

Anonymous said...

I saw it written somewhere here that TMeloto is a 'marketing' man. Whether that is good or bad for CFC or its ministry, GK should be measured in terms of what the man did that gave the community or GK or both, 'FRUITS'(spiritually speaking) or 'RESULTS' (secularly speaking!

If there are a good number of villages spread over the country, any which way one would look at it, then it is easy to conclude that the marketing savvy of TMeloto did both poor Filipinos, who used to live in slums but now have communities /houses /associations/etc., and the CFC community good; not to mention the country too!

Now if that man TMeloto was a Baptist, Buddhist, Muslim, INC,etc -- don't you think his religious group would criticize what he is doing marketing ideas for the benefit of the poor or wouldn't you think that they'd rather just love to support him?

So shouldn't the Catholic Church too look at GK with more discerning understanding and patience and allow it to go through its paces while enhancing the work of the caretaker teams by providing physical presence of its Bishops, Priests, seminarians, nuns, lay church workers to go through the actual GK experience?

After all, I'd like to believe that running a church requires relationship-building with parishioners too. So in addition to the perfunctory hand shaking at the end of religious meetings with the laity, wouldn't the clergy be better off, [not only in terms of image], holding a hammer, a paint brush, a shovel or even perhaps talking to housewives and cuddling babies at a GK site?

If that happens regularly I am sure the 'whisperers'(A William Esposo term) wouldn't have much mileage; then the Catholic Church would have been celebrating the joys of the poor rather than playing the cards of the rich.

Anonymous said...

What's incredibly sad, as some have noted, is that this comes a year on from the real bust up in CFC.

That means, after the passing of a year, FFL's leaders (not necessarily their many sincere members) are still investing huge amounts of time in attacking CFC.

How tragic, how sad, how embarrassing and shameful!!

FFL leaders, I thought the vision was evangelism et al. A year has passed now - move on, focus on the mission!

A year has passed, Frank, Lachie, Manny, Nonong! Time to stop attacking GK and CFC and move on with the mission.

Surely if evangelism is your main concern, that's got to be one of the easiest things to do, right?

Let go, and let God. Please. It's been a year now.

Anonymous said...

PEOPLE OF COUPLES FOR CHRIST, tomorrow go out and celebrate not only because it is holiday (labor day, May 01) but because tomorrow (or today by the time you read this!) the DARK, ANGRY, COVETOUS SPIRIT that led our brothers in FFL to believe that:

-they have gone but they have not left
-they are FFL but they are still CFC
- in the arrogance of their top 2 leaders (Frank & Lachi) who resigned from CFC but had the demand to insist that the remaining four (Rouquel, Joe T, Joe Y & Ernie M) should likewise resign too (see Frank's letter of July 16, 2007
- who premeditated their collective walkout of the June election of the 2007 Council in their June 03, 2007 Easter Playboys & Bunnies meeting
-who are moving their version of heaven and earth to get the Vatican recognition and the CFC name
-who misled the clergy in the persons of the three Bishops with their completely biased opinion against CFC: Bishop Gabby Reyes - (the most notoriously pro-Padilla Bishop in the whole world; never mind that he is President of the Council of the Laity of the Philippines and Spiritual Director/Adviser of CFC-a position he would not want to give up!); Bishop A. Lagdameo and the Bishop with the baby-face, Bishop Soc Villegas.
- who caused Vatican through Cardinal S. Rylko be embroiled in this scandal in the Philippine church (CFC and the splinter/inconsequential group of FFL), causing media to write many unfavorable topics about the church (although it some instances, the some of the church' clergy deserve to be taken to task! Like Bishop Gabby Reyes insistence that he should be retained as Spiritual Director of CFC while admitting to the CFC IC that he is pro FFL! Yung mga Bishop ba excepted from sin? Or even good manners and decorum?)

- etc, etc!!!!

FOR TOMORROW THE WHOLE PHILIPPINES WILL KNOW THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE VATICAN PONTIFICAL COUNCIL OF THE LAITY HAS DECLARED THAT ".....YOUR NAME COUPLES FOR CHRIST CANNOT BE USED BY ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION!"

It will be tomorrow's Phil. Daily Star!!!

What now Bishop Reyes? I think you should resign you Bishopship!