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About
CFCFFL
Who
is the CFCFFL?
The
Movement for Restoration Our
Covenant
Our
Mission and Vision
Our Statement of philosophy
Our
Core Values
Family Ministries Kids
for Family and Life (KFL) Youth
for Family and Life (YFL)
Singles
for Family and Life (SFL)
Handmaids
for Family and Life (HFL)
Servants
for Family and Life (SvFL)
Wish
to JOIN?
The
highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity,
choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over
popularity.
Travel the path of integrity without looking back, for THERE IS
NEVER A WRONG TIME TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
-
Bishop Soc Villegas
25 July 2007
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THE WAY FORWARD IN CHRIST
(Part 23)
RECONCILIATION AND REUNIFICATION?
LOOKING AT CARITAS IN VERITATE
November 24, 2009
Now that CFC-IC has let go of GK, people ask: can the two CFCs now get
back together?
First, it has to be clarified if indeed CFC-IC and GK have split. Both
sides claim that they have not and in fact that they will intensify
collaboration.
Second, the crisis and split were not all about the veering away of GK.
Perhaps the even greater factor that caused the split was the
unchristian actions of the IC.
Thirdly, I have always maintained that we are open to reconciliation and
even reunification, if that is what the Lord wills. But if it is to be
of the Lord, then it has to be based on truth and justice.
In this regard, let us look to Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical, Caritas
in Veritate, to give us proper wisdom and guidance.
This encyclical, issued in June 2009, is on integral human development
in charity and truth. The introduction gives general principles, and
these can help us in seeing the whole question of reconciliation or
reunification more clearly.
It would be a triumph of Christian love if the two CFCs reunited.
However, as Pope Benedict XVI says, such love must be based on, and is
inseparable from, truth and justice.
Love and Truth
The pope clearly links charity to truth.
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“Hence
the need to link charity with truth not only in the sequence,
pointed out by Saint Paul, of veritas in caritate (Eph 4:15),
but also in the inverse and complementary sequence of caritas in
veritate. Truth needs to be sought, found and expressed within
the “economy” of charity, but charity in its turn needs to be
understood, confirmed and practised in the light of truth.” (#2)
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“Only
in truth does charity shine forth, only in truth can charity be
authentically lived. Truth is the light that gives meaning and value
to charity. .... Without truth, charity degenerates into
sentimentality.” (#3)
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“Truth,
in fact, is logos which creates dia-logos, and hence
communication and communion.” (#4)
But the CFC-IC has often not told the truth.
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The IC
claimed it had 7 pillars after the split. But it knew nothing about
the 7th pillar, the Special Ministries, and even today has nothing
on this so-called pillar.
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The IC
claimed it was in 160 countries after the split, and even now claims
it is in 161 countries after adding a new country. But in truth it
is probably in only 60-70 countries. There are many claimed
countries where CFC-IC is not present, such as, to name just a few:
Cameroon, Namibia, the 20 countries of Latin America except for one,
Slovenia, Russia, etc.
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The IC
misrepresented the statements of the CFC Spiritual Director, Bp
Gabriel Reyes, more than once.
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The IC
claims CFC-FFL is recognized only by the bishop of Antipolo, even
when it was already present in over 30 dioceses in the Philippines.
The official recognition of CFC-FFL by the CBCP finally puts an end
to this lie.
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The IC
claims their CFC is the legal CFC, even suing CFC-FFL in court over
the name. They ignore the reality that CFC-FFL’s corporation,
CFCFI, was established in 1984, while their corporation, CFCGMFI,
was established only 9 years later, in 1993. If anyone is to sue
anyone over the name, it should be we who should sue them.
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The IC
claims we left CFC. The truth is we left the corporation of CFC
(actually, because we were being kicked out), but we never left CFC,
and in fact, we have restored the authentic CFC, true to its charism
and led by its founder.
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The IC
made many false accusations against us, especially against me, not
the least of which is that I stole millions from CFC.
If
there is to be reconciliation or reunification, there should be first of
all a recognition of what is true. The pope stresses: “To defend the
truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear
witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of
charity. Charity, in fact, ‘rejoices in the truth’ (1 Cor 13:6).”
(#1)
Love and Justice
The pope further links charity to justice.
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“Charity
.... never lacks justice, which prompts us to give the other
what is ‘his’, what is due to him by reason of his being or his
acting.” (#6)
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“If we
love others with charity, then first of all we are just towards
them. Not only is justice not extraneous to charity, not only is it
not an alternative or parallel path to charity: justice is
inseparable from charity, and intrinsic to it. Justice is the
primary way of charity or, in Paul VI’s words, ‘the minimum
measure’ of it” (#6)
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“charity
demands justice: recognition and respect for the legitimate rights
of individuals and peoples.” (#6)
But the IC
has been guilty of injustices.
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The IC
has sued CFC-FFL in the Philippines, the USA and Canada over the
name “CFC.” This is despite the CBCP and many bishops in other
countries officially recognizing us. Aside from being unjust, this
is scandalous, this is unbiblical, and this is a waste of God’s
money (and their members’ tithes).
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The IC
has not paid the retirement benefits of over 20 full-time pastoral
workers who resigned or retired due to principle from CFC after the
split.
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The IC
has not returned the bridge funds that it borrowed from CFC members,
simply because these brethren are with CFC-FFL.
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The IC
and GK have not completed many villages that have been fully funded.
One prime example is the Int’l GK Village. This is despite the
appeal of the beneficiaries themselves. Is it because they aligned
with CFC-FFL? This is great injustice to the poor.
If there is
to be reconciliation or reunification, there must first of all be
justice.
Our posture
Again, I am open to reconciliation and reunification. But it has to be
based on truth and justice. This is true charity.
On the other hand, there is nothing that hinders us from loving our
brethren in CFC-IC-GK. In fact, this has been our posture from the time
of the split.
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Even
though they veered away while we restored the authentic charism and
call of CFC, we still look on them as CFC.
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Even
though legally we have prior right to the name CFC, we do not try to
deprive them of the use of the name.
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Even
though they have maligned us and considered us as enemies, we have
not retaliated in kind and have offered our hands in friendship and
brotherhood.
As the
pope says, “On the one hand, charity demands justice .... On the other
hand, charity transcends justice and completes it in the logic of giving
and forgiving.” (#6)
I have forgiven my brethren in the IC, even though there has been no
repentance or asking for forgiveness. I hold no rancor in my heart.
But if we are to be truly reconciled, this should be based on truth and
justice.
Further, insistence on truth and justice is for the good of our brethren
in CFC-IC-GK. We should desire that they not remain in untruth and
injustice. As the pope says, “To love someone is to desire that
person’s good and to take effective steps to secure it.” (#7).
I pray for the Lord’s blessings upon both CFCs.
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