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
