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1.0 |
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Nature
and Purpose |
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1.1 |
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COUPLES
FOR CHRIST FOUNDATION FOR FAMILY AND LIFE (CFCFFL)
is a private association of faithful committed
to the work of evangelization and family life
renewal. |
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1.2
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CFCFFL
is a missionary body, and the families that make
up this association are to be families that will
be instruments of the Holy Spirit in renewing
the face of the earth. |
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2.0
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Vision
and Mission |
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2.1
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CFCFFL
is called to rise in defense of the family which
is God’s work. It is called to bring families
back to the plan of God. It is called to bring
the Lord’s strength and light to those who
are struggling to be truly Christian families
in the modern world. |
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2.2 |
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CFCFFL
works for Christian family renewal at various
levels--the individual, the family, the larger
community. |
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2.21
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Individual
renewal. CFCFFL takes the basic message of
Christianity and proclaims it anew so that those
who hear it can make a renewed commitment to God
in a way that will allow them to receive a fuller
experience of the work of the Holy Spirit in their
lives. |
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2.22
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Family
renewal. As couples renew their commitment
to God, they also renew their commitment to one
another and to their Christian family life. Gradually,
the new life that they find in the Lord filters
down to all their family relationships. |
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2.23
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Church
renewal. As individual families are renewed,
they form a network of committed Christian families
that not only support one another but also strengthen
the Church of which they are members. |
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2.231
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CFCFFL
is committed to work for Catholic re-evangelization
first and foremost, but looks to the ideal of
Christian unity and will also serve the other
Christian Churches whenever possible, in full
respect and in conformity with the Catholic identity
of the association. |
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2.232
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CFCFFL
is committed to building up vibrant Christian
communities in the parishes, dioceses and localities
where its members congregate. |
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2.24
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Societal
renewal. CFCFFL, in raising holy Christian
men and women, likewise raises responsible members
of society. |
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2.3
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CFCFFL
carries out its mission of renewal by focusing
on three basic areas—evangelization and
Church renewal, family life renewal, and total
Christian liberation and development. |
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2.3
1 |
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Evangelization
and Church renewal. CFCFFL exists to evangelize.
Every CFCFFL member is to be and evangelizer and
is to live an evangelistic lifestyle. |
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2.32
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Family
life renewal. CFCFFL’s work of evangelization,
formation and support is situated in the context
of Christian family living. |
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2.321 |
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CFCFFL
is committed to the defense and strengthening
of families and of Christian family values. |
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2.33 |
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Total
Christian liberation. CFCFFL is committed
to work for the liberation of the human person,
through its three thrusts of work with the poor,
work for justice, and work for life. |
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3.0
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Membership |
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3.1
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Membership
in CFCFFL is open to any validly married Catholic
couple, and to other individuals through its Family
and Special Ministries. |
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3.11
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Though
a Catholic community, CFCFFL is open to membership
by non-Catholic Christians, who can join as associate
members. Associate members can participate fully
in the non-sacramental life and mission of CFCFFL,
and must recognize and defer to the Catholic nature
of the community. Non-Catholic associates, though
remaining faithful to their Church, have to accept,
respect, and defer to the principles and teachings
of the Catholic Church on marriage, human sexuality
and the family. |
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3.2
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Those
who want to join CFCFFL go through a seminar called
a Christian Life Program (CLP) for adults, or
a Youth Camp for young adults. The CLP and Youth
Camp are integrated courses leading into a renewed
understanding of God’s call to Christians,
to a personal response of accepting Jesus as Lord
and Savior, and to receiving a renewed outpouring
of the Holy Spirit on their lives. |
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3.21
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After
the CLP or Youth Camp, those who finish are invited
to join CFCFFL or its Family or Special Ministries
by making their commitment by way of a covenant,
and are then integrated into the body. |
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3.3
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Membership
may be terminated by the leadership for any of
the following reasons: |
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- Serious
unrepented wrongdoing.
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Gross unfaithfulness to the covenant of CFCFFL.
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Public opposition to CFCFFL teachings and
culture, as well as official Church teachings.
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Ongoing disruption of good order in the community.
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Any other act that would seriously undermine
the life and mission of CFCFFL.
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3.31
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Any
member may voluntarily leave CFCFFL at any time
and for any reason. |
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4.0
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Corporate
Life and Formation |
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4.1
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Those
who join CFCFFL are made part of a small cell
group called a household. The household members
meet regularly for mutual support and encouragement
in the Christian life. |
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4.11
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The
household meetings, normally held in the homes
of the group members on rotation basis, would
normally involve some time for prayers, a time
for sharing or discussion, and finally some time
for fellowship. |
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4.2
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All
members undergo continuing formation both in the
Christian life and also in the life and mission
of CFCFFL. |
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4.3
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Members
of CFCFFL are related to one another as brothers
and sisters in Christ. As such, their relationship
is not to be functional but should reflect the
intimacy of Christian love, caring and sharing. |
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5.0
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Organization |
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5.1
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The
household is the basic cell grouping in CFCFFL.
It is in the household where members share their
lives more intimately and support one another
in their spiritual growth. |
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5.2
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Different
households form a larger grouping, and such larger
groupings form an even larger grouping, forming
a pyramidal structure up the line. |
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5.3
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CFCFFL
may establish itself as a foundation or corporation
or formal association, in accordance with local
and/or national laws, for purposes of conducting
transactions as a juridical entity. Such juridical
personality however does not supercede the more
basic reality that CFCFFL is a Christian community
with its own organization, government and patterns
of life. |
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6.0
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Leadership
and Government |
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6.1
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There
are many levels of leadership in CFCFFL. Whatever
the level, it is to be a servant leadership, in
the example of Jesus. |
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6.11
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Leaders
are appointed by those over them, done through
prayerful discernment. |
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6.12
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Leaders
are chosen on the basis of capability, pastoral
experience and growth in holiness and discipleship.
Leaders are not chosen merely on the basis of
seniority in CFCFFL membership, experience or
leadership in other religious organizations, or
leadership in secular organizations. |
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6.13
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Leaders
may be removed if it becomes obvious that they
are no longer able to carry out their responsibilities
effectively. |
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7.0
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Finances |
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7.1 |
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The work of CFCFFL is generally financed through
the voluntary contributions of its members. |
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7.2
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CFCFFL
members are encouraged to also contribute generously
to the material and financial needs of their parish. |
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8.0
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CFCFFL
as a servant within the Catholic Church |
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8.1 |
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CFCFFL
seeks to be a servant to and lay arm of the Catholic
Church in the work of evangelization, family life
renewal and total Christian liberation. |
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8.11
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In
particular, CFCFFL can serve the parishes in the
following ways: |
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Pursuance of its basic mission of re-evangelization
and family life renewal.
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Promotion of its family ministries to reach
non-couples within the parish.
- Building
communities among the poor within the territory
of the parish.
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Offering of special programs/courses for parishioners,
such as the Marriage Preparation Program or
its program for Natural Family Planning.
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Undertaking specific services, such as sponsorship
of a weekly Mass.
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Support for parishioners in irregular unions,
according to the teaching of the Catholic
Church.
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General support of parish life and activities.
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8.2
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CFCFFL
will live out its life and mission in communion
with the bishops. |
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8.21
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CFCFFL
recognizes, defers to and actively submits to
the authority of the bishop as shepherd of his
particular diocese. |
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8.22
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CFCFFL
looks to having a Spiritual Adviser appointed
by the bishop for the CFC group within his diocese.
Such Spiritual Adviser may be the bishop himself,
or at his option, a priest or religious appointed
by him. |
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8.23
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CFCFFL
is to ask the bishops, in their role as shepherds,
to provide spiritual formation for its members. |
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Retreats and recollections for leaders and
members.
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Instruction on Catholic and theological doctrines.
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Updates on the Church stand on various important
issues.
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Consultation on moral and theological issues
that come up.
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8.3
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CFCFFL
is committed to the renewal and strengthening
of the Catholic Church. |
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| 8.31
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CFCFFL
is committed to rise in defense of the Catholic
Church against the forces that seek to destroy
or weaken it. |
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8.32
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CFCFFL
will conform to and support official and orthodox
Church teachings and stands on issues. |
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8.33
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CFCFFL
is committed to the communication of the Catholic
faith in all its integrity to its Catholic members. |
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8.4
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CFCFFL
will be open to and will pursue ecumenical relationships
in accordance with the posture of the local Church
hierarchy. CFCFFL will also be open to inter-religious
dialogue, again under the guidance of the Church
hierarchy. |
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9.0
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Amendments |
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9.1
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Amendments
may be adopted upon the affirmative vote of the
members of the CFCFFL board of trustees. |
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*
* * * *
July 30, 2007
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