FROM
THE SERVANT GENERAL
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
