THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST
(Part 10)
June 14,
2008
Subject: THE
“COUPLES FOR CHRIST” NAME
My dear
brothers and sisters in Christ,
Peace!
On June 5,
the Philippines’ Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC), on our
petition, issued an Order reviving the original CFC foundation established
in 1986, the “COUPLES FOR CHRIST FOUNDATION INC.” (CFCFI). This means
that we now have legal right to the name “CFC,” and this is a prior
right to that of CFC-GK-IC, with its corporation of CFCGMFI established in
1993.
Many
bishops, both in the Philippines and in other countries, have recognized
CFC-FFL. They include Bishop Gabriel Reyes, the Spiritual Director of CFC
(before he resigned as Spiritual Director of CFC-GK) and the Chair of the
Episcopal Commission on the Laity, and Archbishop Angel Lagdameo,
Archbishop of Jaro and President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the
Philippines (CBCP). In a recent letter to me dated May 27, Cardinal
Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, also
left it to individual bishops to recognize CFC-FFL, including that of our
name.
Therefore,
from both the spiritual and the secular, from both Church and state, we
have every right to use the name “Couples for Christ.”
Even from
the moral and ethical standpoint, we can and should use the name
“CFC.” The Church considers me the founder of CFC, and in the
ecclesiology of new movements, the charism resides in the founder. Where
the founder is, there is the charism. Where the charism is, there is the
authentic CFC.
So to all
my brothers and sisters in CFC-FFL, if you ever had any doubts at all
before, be assured that you are indeed CFC. The Church and the state, and
I believe the Lord as well, say so.
With regard
to our brethren in CFC-GK, we do not intend to do to them what they have
been doing to us. For the sake of peace and eventual reconciliation, we do
not intend to prevent them from using the name “CFC,” for as long as
they strive to not let go of what it means to be truly CFC.
In fact, I
reiterate my long-standing and constant proposal, that of having one big
CFC family but with two separate and distinct branches. This has many
models among the religious congregations, such as the Franciscans and the
Carmelites. This way, we co-exist peacefully, and even keep the door open
to eventual reconciliation and true unity.
I extend my
hand of peace to my brethren in CFC-GK.
For us in
CFC-FFL, let us continue to move on, as we have been doing. There is much
work to be done. Since last year we have been praying: “Lead us back to
you, O Lord, that we may be restored: give us anew such days as we had of
old.” (Lam 5:21). The Lord has answered our prayers. God has restored us
to our authentic charism of evangelization and family life renewal. Now
God has even restored the original CFC foundation. So now we look to such
days of old, when we were focused on our calling, and when we zealously
proclaimed Christ throughout the world.
Let us
praise and thank God for His wondrous deeds in our lives and in our work.
We thank our Blessed Mother Mary for interceding for us and granting our
prayers. Let us be humbled by God’s faithfulness to us, and continue to
dedicate ourselves totally to Him and to our mission.
And let us
continue to rejoice! Always!
God bless
us all.
Your
brother and co-worker in Christ,
Frank
Padilla
