[katoliko] The Real Story on CFC
Carlos Antonio Palad
Dear All,
Before you pass judgement on what's been happening to CFC, please read this website:
http://defendingcfc.blogspot.com/
I trust this website because it jives closely with the full info that my mother -- a member of the Pastoral Formation Office of Handmaids of the Lord, the CFC arm for widows and the separated -- had received from her friends within the upper echelons of CFC.
Other websites to read are:
http://www.cfcglobal.org.ph/ -- official site of CFC
http://www.fulfillingthemandate.org/main.php -- pro-CFC Council, anti-Frank Padilla
http://www.cfcunited.com/ -- pro-CFC Council, anti-Frank Padilla
http://www.cfceastergroup.org/home.htm -- Frank Padilla's group
Complete documentation from both sides (but with a pro-Frank Padilla slant) can be found in
http://www.cfceastergroup.org/documents/documents.htm
THE REAL STORY
I would like to make clear that I and my mother stand with the current CFC council and against Frank Padilla and his group. Frank has sadly managed to deceive a lot of people with innuendos and false accusations -- and I can see the work of his propaganda even here in Apologia, as the most recent postings make clear. Please, people, verify first before reacting!
To those who keep defending Frank, here is my challenge: According to Frank, CFC and GK have begun to drift away from their spiritual moorings. Okay... WHO LED THE CFC UNTIL FEB, 2007? UNDER WHOSE WATCH DID THESE DEVIATIONS OCCUR? WHO ELSE BUT FRANK PADILLA?
When GK was conceptualized by Tony Meloto, Frank Padilla gave full support because it dove-tailed with his discernment that the CFC should "bring glad tidings to the poor". The tandem worked hand-in-hand, supporting each other through GK777. Then Tony got his face on the SHELL banners, and the cracks started to appear. This action struck many in CFC as an act of monumental pride, although there is evidence that Tony had no idea of what Shell really wanted to do with his picture. There are indications that he sincerely thought that Shell would put up some sort of advertorial for GK with Tony as endorser (naturally). Instead, Shell turned him into some sort of advertising icon -- and that got a lot of people angry, including Frank.
The final straw was when Tony M was nominated for the RM Awards because of GK. Frank's followers campaigned strongly against Tony and pushed for Frank Padilla as the rightful awardee. Then the awards was given, Tony and Frank were both on the stage. After this, Frank came out with a paper called GK3, villifying the "non-Catholic leanings of GK", - its being non-pro-life, accepting other religions, thereby surrendering the Catholic mission of evangelization, etc.
WHY THE SUDDEN CHANGE? AND WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THESE MISTAKES ANYWAY? WHO ELSE BUT FRANK PADILLA, WHO HAD LED CFC FOR 26 YEARS, WHO WAS STILL LEADING CFC WHEN THIS PAPER WAS WRITTEN, AND WHO HAD ALLOWED ALL SORTS OF ERRORS AND DEVIATIONS TO CREEP IN!
In fairness to Frank, Tony's actuations were indeed not free of blame, and smacked of pride. It is also true that he emphasized social action too much, at the expense of spirituality and evangelization. That being said, FRANK HAD COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY, NOT TONY!
(Furthermore, Tony has already voluntarily resigned as GK Executive Director and as member of the CFC Council as of this writing, and no longer holds any position of responsibility. Despite all the talk about him remaining the power behind the CFC Council, he has chosen to remain quiet. Why keep dragging him into the fray? He's already been punished for his mistakes.)
By February 2007, tensions had built up within the Council of Seven and among the elders, as well as between the family members of the council. To defuse tensions, Tony Meloto volunteered to resign and told Frank that since he is also part of the problem, he and Lachie Agana should also resign so that the community will not be affected by what was essentially an internal problem. The resignations were announced to the Mission Core Group (made up of all leaders in Metro Manila, chapter heads and up as well as heads of all family and social ministries) that very same day, with the three taking command responsibility for the mistakes in GK and spiritual laxity of CFC. At that time, this act was seen as a sign of Frank's immense humility. Little did they know....
The elections for the new CFC Council was scheduled on June, 2007, even before Frank Padilla, Tony Meloto and Lachie Agana resigned on February, 2007. They anointed the remaining 4 members of the council to carry on until the elections. When the nominations for new council members came, the four who remained were re-nominated by the Board of Elders (BOE), Frank, Tony and Lachie were not. That was when Frank move to have the elections postponed, purportedly he wanted to settle issues first - issues which he raised. Just before this move, Frank asked Joe Yamamoto why he (Frank) was not nominated once more to the Council. Joe, surprised, retorted "but we thought you sincerely wanted to resign!" It now became clear that Frank's real agenda was, after having resigned, to be re-elected to the helm of CFC in what could then be interpreted by the public as a rousing call by the CFC grassroots for the "bearer of the charism" (Frank) to be returned to power. And
this time, Tony wouldn't be around to rival him.
Frustrated in his plans, Frank went to the Bishops to exert influence on the BOE to postpone . The three Bishops did give a "strong recommendation" which the Board of elders discussed and discerned, but the BOE decided to push through and the new 7-man council was elected, which included the 4 retainees. Frank them issued a statement that the 7-man council was "disobedient" to the Bishops because they pushed through with the elections and gave this as the reason for their lack of moral ascendancy to retain their positions, (a statement that ignores many basic principles of Catholic doctrine and canon law, as I'll point out later). He then called for their resignation. The Council and the Board of elders pointed out that the bishops, though spiritual advisers, cannot interfere in administrative matters and so were not disobedient to a "strong recommendation". After this, Frank and his followers campaigned in CFC international councils in other countries
so that they will refuse to recognize the new council. He then filed for recognition of the Couples for Christ Foundation for Family and Life, Inc. by the SEC, with him as the head, and announcing that this was the real CFC. SEC, however, refused. What happened afterwards was a strong campaign among CFC membership by the CFC-FFL to get the CFC membership on their side. Hence the split.
What is clear is that Frank wants nothing to do with GK ( maybe because it is too identified with Tony Meloto) and wants to go back to evangelization the way it was before GK. WHY? Because GK will forever be Tony Moloto's baby. Evangelization is Frank's.
HERE COMES THE CRISIS
If the media were to know the real story of the crisis, the Church will be in deep s--t. The real story has nothing to do with Frank upholding principles and everything about Frank trying to keep power. CFC is currently tottering near bankruptcy, partly because of millions of pesos of cash advances by some people without properly liquidating this. The accounting procedures in the home office was lax to say the least. Couple this with Frank Padilla's comment, when he was asked to liquidate the expenses: "you cannot put a limit to God's work". You can figure out why the new CFC Council is now struggling to keep above water, so to speak.
(With the current split, there has been a great reduction in tithing and love offerings and the loss of many members)
However, as long as Frank was in power, these abuses went undetected. It is very telling that he began to denounce the new council when the new council brought in accountants, who promptly saw the proof that millions of pesos of cash advances -- some of these to the Padillas -- had not been liquidated. In fact, they found out that CFC is some 10 million pesos in the red! Furthermore, people who had previously remained silent began to speak up about some questionable aspects of the lifestyle and perks of Frank and Gerry contrasted with the sacrifices and hardships of other CFC leaders and service team members, as well as about the way people close to the Padillas were awarded with lavish perks, including trips to abroad.
As for the bishops: I would like to point out that the bishops who supported Frank were simply spiritual advisers, and as bishops, none of the three (Villegas, Reyes and Lagdameo) had any jurisdiction over Metro Manila, where the action was. Bishops, no matter what they think (and some Filipino bishops do have an exaggerated concept of their authority), do not have jurisdiction over inter-diocesan, let alone international organizations such as CFC. THIS IS BASIC! Furthermore, while one bishop (Reyes) openly sided with Frank, another (Archbishop Arguelles of Lipa) forbade Frank's group from entering his archdiocese, and sided with the CFC Council.
FRANK PADILLA: ORTHODOX CATHOLIC?
Furthermore, are we not defenders of Catholic orthodoxy? Under Frank Padilla, false and erroneous teachings crept in into CFC. For example:
1) Erroneous teachings about the "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" as the beginning of the Christian life (as if Baptism and Confirmation are empty symbols); some CFC and SFC speakers even spoke of "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" as "awakening the sleeping Holy Spirit within us" and as "giving effect to the presence of God in our lives". Heresy! Do they consider the sacraments to be useless?
2) Erroneous teachings about the "Sin of the Holy Spirit": Frank at one point (in Ugnayan, the official publication of CFC) went so far as to claim that those who dared to vigorously criticize the decisions of the CFC elders (in fact, his decision) to pursue GK, were guilty of this sin and can no longer expect God's forgiveness and eternal life. What blasphemy! IS FRANK PADILLA GOD?
3) Erroneous teachings about "massive, rapid evangelization". In issue after issue of Ugnayan, Frank and senior CFC leaders spoke about converting the world to Christ in just ten years or so, and about the need to have hundreds of thousands of new members every year. What imprudence! What pride! Did the CFC elders think that they can do better than the Catholic Church? In their audacity, the elders also forgot the teaching and example of so many Saints and Holy Fathers regarding evangelization. Evangelization IS NOT A NUMBERS GAME! IT IS NOT ABOUT QUANTITY! IT IS ABOUT THE SINCERE CONVERSION OF SOULS TO GOD! Evangelization, in fact, begins with small but fervent groups!
4) Erroneous teachings about CFC itself. In some of his writings and talks, Frank attributes a dignity and a place in God's plans to CFC that properly belong to the Catholic Church alone. For example, the tendency to talk about the CFC as "God's People" (THE PEOPLE OF GOD IS THE CHURCH, NOT CFC!) and the tendency to insist that no one should leave CFC under any circumstances.
In the summary of vision and mission relased by the new council, one of the goals is to include Basic Catechism in the pastoral formation. This is something that many in the community had longed for but which could only be pursued now that Frank is out of the picture.
FALSE ACCUSATIONS
Please don't be so easy to believe the accusation that CFC is somehow lukewarm on life issues, or that it even allows contraception. Whatever CFC's shortcomings, this is one accusation that is simply untrue. Contraception, it is true, has invaded some GK areas. However, this is due not to CFC, but to the aggressive drive by local LGU's to promote contraception among the poor. It has come to the point that GK inhabitants are given free contraceptives when they go to barangay clinics! My own mother has had to do a lot of talking to contraceptors in GK to convince them of the rightness of Catholic teaching.
This accusation -- a false accusation -- is just one of the red herrings thrown up by the Frank Padilla group in their attempt to divert attention away from the real issues that emerged in the aftermath of his resignation as head of CFC. CFC is very much committed to pro-life work. In fact, it is Frank's new group that has no pro-life ministry because they have decided to stick to evangelization. The new council retains all seven pillars which include being pro-life.
The real enemy here is not CFC allegedly gone anti-life, but the aggressive drive of most LGU's to ram contraceptives down the throats of the poor, leading them to violate even GK areas.
It is also not true that GK has allowed the Mormons to evangelize in a GK site in exchange for financial support. The Mormons offered to set up the water systems in some GK sites. However, there were objections to this and so the plans did not push through.There is no Mormon GK village to this day. Neither is it true that CFC has knowingly compromised on morals. These are just accusations, nothing more! I personally know people who work in GK: I do not know anyone among them who is not pro-life. While mistakes have been committed here and there, CFC has always remained pro-life in its principles and Catholic in its identity. In fact, non-catholics, those who are not married in church and those who are into immoral lifestyles are not allowed to become household heads though they are allowed to serve in community activities and attend the teachings.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RENEWAL
Dear people in Apologia, the current crisis in CFC has had one effect. It has made many CFC members aware of the need to have deeper faith. In fact, as early as last year, there was already a growing clamor in CFC for more emphasis on Catholic doctrine and identity. People were leaving CFC in droves because they were hungry for spiritual bread, and many CFC members began to realize their need for a deeper knowledge of the faith. With Frank gone, the monopoly that he used to exercise over CFC doctrine is also gone. Now is the time to reach out to CFC and to assist them as they seek to become more traditionally Catholic in their identity.
As i said above, in the summary of vision and mission relased by the new CFC Ccouncil, one of the goals is to include Basic Catechism in the pastoral formation. This is something that many in the community had longed for, but which could only be pursued now that Frank is out of the picture.
So, stop the bashing and begin fighting the real enemies.
Carlos
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Resty Odon
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PRINZ LUV
I agree with u Bro Resty, very disappointing, we Catholics work so hard on all Charities, to provide for the needies , the hunger & the poor, But in 1 Lousy reason , & the Devil will break all our hard works for the Poor.Sad Very Sad, the GK is one of my favorite Charity.
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Resty Odon
Monday, August 20, 2007
Peace and division
Fr. D. is such a wonderful preacher. His sermons are focused, well-researched, unified, and endlessly insightful. Last Sunday, he dwelt on Jesus' rhetorical line, "I came to bring war/division, not peace," in order to shed light on division as seen from the Christian viewpoint and how it is not that bad and certainly not incompatible with the concept of peace. I was almost despairing of the fact that I couldn't catch all the wisdom he had uttered, but I will try my best to distill here what I did catch.
"Why does Jesus speak here about division, when He speaks about peace in other stories? (Fr. D. quotes different passages from different books.) Why speak about fathers against sons, sons versus fathers, and so on? Why can't we say, 'Let's all just get along'?"
"Then again, God also speaks about division elsewhere in Scripture. The Bible is filled with images of division. Remember that Jesus came into this world amidst great division. Recall how Herod ordered the massacre of innocents. There was great division. Recall how in Revelations, God promises to separate the sheep from the goat." (Recall passages about the wheat and the weed.)
"Sometimes, division is necessary because peace cannot possibly coexist with evil. It's false peace if it is in conflict with truth. We can't make peace with sin."
"Sometimes, division is not a mere consequence. Sometimes it exposes the division already present in the hearts of men."
"We are all familiar with division. We know what division means in the family, in society, even within ourselves. When we are torn between two things, there is division."
Division, clearly, is not a very enjoyable or happy thing. But it is unavoidable, even necessary, if we are to be faithful in living out our life as Christians. We should be ready to face opposition, especially in issues of faith that have popular interpretations (interpreted popularly for the sake of friendship or the respect and approval of men).
(Fr. D. then recounts a riveting story of how Bishop John Fisher of Manchester, England was beheaded (literally divided!; I can't remember the year) because he wouldn't compromise with sin (the reigning king's (King Henry VIII?) legitimization of his divorce and adultery) that he'd rather have division. What I remember the most about the story is that this bishop not only encountered division with the reigning royalty and elite but also with his brother bishops; he was called a "troublemaker" or rabble-rouser. This is the saddest part of all. Like Thomas More in his time, he was reportedly the only one who opposed the king, and he paid dearly for it. He was eventually canonized as a martyr of the Church.
(I hope I didn't get the history all mixed up.)
-Resty O.
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Wilberto Piczon
Hello Groupmates!
Salamat sa iyo sa mga quotes mo Bro Resty! Nag-reremind sa amin na kahit masaklap ang nangyari ay pinayagan pa din itong mangyari ng Panginoon at patuloy pa din ang Kanyang mga plano. Wag lang tayo bibitiw.
Nakakalungkot ang nangyari sa CFC. Sana lang ay di maapektuhan ang mga magagandang hangarin ng grupong ito lalo na at isa ito sa mga popular na organization sa ating Simbahan.
Ipagdasal natin na maliwanagan ng isip ang mga namamahala ng CFC at maiwasan ang mga kasamaan. Isama din natin sa ating mga dasal na wag itong masyadong makaapekto sa ating imbitasyon sa mga hindi katoliko para bumalik sa ating simbahan.
your groupmate,
eric
www.ewtn.com,www.catholicexchange.com/css,www.newadvent.com
www.salvationhistory.com,www.catholic.com,www.geocities.com/eric_piczon
www.scripturecatholic.com
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PRINZ LUV
"Wag kang malungkot kapatid na Eric
Kung nagkamali man ang CFC,marami pa ring Katolikong Grupo andyan ang LOJ(light of Jesus), & LOM (legion of Mary) at kasama laht ang Katoliko sa laht ng Charity, So my friend ,my Bro.Eric,Dont Worry be Happy
The Lord will still bless us for helping the neddies ,the homeless ,the Hunger, and the Poor.
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