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Our
Community in Crisis
June
10, 2007
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
The peace, hope and joy of the Lord be with you all.
OUR BELOVED COMMUNITY IS IN DEEP CRISIS AND
INTERNAL CONFLICT.
The Lord brought us to Lamentations for this year 2007.
But no one could have imagined the conflict and disunity
that the top leaders in our community would be facing
now. We are in crisis. I am deeply concerned.
But first, since even I am under attack, and there are
those who would question my authority to speak, I am
involving myself because CFC is the community I love
and will spend the rest of my life in. Do I have the
right to speak? Of course, and so does anyone else in
our community, especially if there is a great threat
to our very life and mission.
Further, my wife Gerry and I were here from the very
start, I have witnessed the blessings of God upon CFC
for the last 26 years, I can see what is really going
on, and I do have a responsibility, together with everyone
else, to protect our life and mission.
What is the concern?
At the very heart of my concern is the tension between
the parent CFC and the child GK. Briefly, this has to
do with:
(1) The social versus the spiritual dimension of the
work;
(2) The tendency of certain top leaders of GK to exclude
the Family and Social Ministries in real integration
in the GK work;
(3) Looking on CFC as basically just a resource base
(warm bodies, money, territorial presence, integrity)
but not fully submitted to the overall governance of
CFC.
(4) The singular focus on GK that denigrates the other
pillars, such as Pro-Life and Social Ministries.
The above are causing serious disunity and tension in
CFC, especially among top leaders. Some would say that
it is just a conflict between Tony Meloto and myself.
This is not true.
Let me make it very clear, I am not against GK. Those
who want to put me down have spread the lie that I am
against or am attacking Tony Meloto or GK. But my record
speaks for itself. All my books, articles, talks, teachings
and papers are in strong support of GK. I do believe
God gave GK to CFC so that it could do the wonderful
work it is doing. As for Tony, he is my brother, with
whom I have issues. For 7 long years I was Tony’s
defender and supporter. But the issues have persisted
and the tension deepened, and I precisely want to confront
the issues because of my love for and support to GK.
Exacerbating this tension is the lack of dialogue. Tony
Meloto does not want to have a dialogue or even meet.
He does not attend our fraternal household meetings
and he does not attend the meeting called by the Council
to talk about the issues. Unfortunately, the Council
itself, while having many meetings with different leaders,
has not been eager to meet with me or with Lachie Agana.
I and Lachie have always been the ones pursuing them
for a dialogue. While there have been some meetings,
there has certainly not been enough talking among us.
Is this about power and control?
There are also those who insinuate that I am just after
power and control. Again this is farthest from the truth,
and my record bears this out.
(1) When CFC went separate ways with Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon
(LNP) in 1993, I voluntarily relinquished my position
of Executive Director and did not stand for election
to the CFC Council for the 1993-1995 term.
(2) When I sensed the Lord wanting the Council to take
command responsibility for collective guilt of the whole
community, I voluntarily stepped down from the Council
and being CFC Director last February 20.
(3) When I saw how the top leaders (the 7 in the former
Council) were in conflict, I said it was no longer a
question of who was right or wrong, but we needed to
acknowledge that we were the problem, and so I proposed
that the 7 of us should not be available to the new
Council (2007-2009). Luis Oquinena and Issa Santos of
GK agreed with this in principle, and the members of
the Board of Elders (12 present out of 15) all agreed
with this. However, the Council (of 4) did not agree.
(4) Even as I was trying to find ways and means of resolving
some of the conflicts, and thus proposed being given
the opportunity to name additional nominees to the Council,
I told the Council and Bp Gabby Reyes that I would exclude
myself.
Even now, I have no problem being excluded, if that
is what it will take to gain moral ascendancy and thus
be given the opportunity to help bring peace, reconciliation,
healing and unity to our community.
Elders should not hold on to position, especially if
they are the cause of conflict and disunity. This calls
for simple humility, delicadeza, not hardening
our hearts, and confidence in our deep bench of leaders,
especially the younger ones.
The current issue
The current issue right now is that our bishops, deeply
cognizant of the conflict within CFC (especially among
each one of the 7 brothers in the former Council), have
issued a letter to the Elders Assembly strongly recommending
the 7 to talk about the issues and for the June elections
to be postponed. They wisely say that major decisions
should not be made in a situation of deep conflict and
division.
The 3 bishops who issued the letter are: Bp Gabby Reyes
(Chair of the Episcopal Commission on the Laity and
our CFC National Spiritual Director), Archbp Angel Lagdameo
(President of the CBCP) and Bp Soc Villegas (under the
direct authority of Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, Archbishop
of Manila). We can see that collectively they truly
represent the Church hierarchy.
The bishops issued their letter last June 7, with Bp
Gabby Reyes himself bringing the letter to the Home
Office. However, instead of bringing the 7 together
to talk, the Council issued its “CFC Council Statement”
the next day, June 8, but dated (antedated?) June 6,
regarding the holding of the elections on June 22. Then
the Council issued its letter to the bishops also on
June 8 but dated June 7, rejecting the postponement
of the elections. The bishops had just released their
letter, and the Council was immediately rejecting it.
Why?
I believe this is very disrespectful to the bishops.
As such, this can endanger our evangelization work,
as the other bishops in the provinces (and even abroad)
may look on CFC as disobedient at worse or as disrespectful
at best. This can also endanger our official recognition,
as a National Association of Lay Faithful by the CBCP
and as an International Lay Association of Christian
Faithful by the Holy See (Vatican).
Further, the bishops’ letter was addressed to
the Elders Assembly. The Council did not have the right
to reject the bishops, as they do not speak for the
Elders Assembly. Neither did they consult the Elders
Assembly. They simply bypassed and usurped the power
and authority of the Elders Assembly. This is very disrespectful
to the Elders Assembly. This is so ironic, being done
by those so intent on legalities.
But will postponing the elections cause greater disunity
as the Council claims? I believe not, since we precisely
will have the opportunity to talk about the issues and
work at healing and reconciliation. But how about our
time-honored tradition and process of elections? Well,
what the bishops are asking for is just a postponement,
not a total scrapping. Besides, when David and Jesus’
own disciples “violated” the sabbath and
did what was unlawful, Jesus defended them, saying “The
sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.”
(Mk 2:24-28). By the same token, our processes are at
the service of our community. When the bishops are so
concerned that they issue such a strong recommendation,
it is improper for us to cite tradition or processes.
Brothers and sisters, our bishops are not “pakialamero.”
They have better things to do than to involve themselves
in petty quarrels. But this is not the case with CFC.
They see that what is happening as very serious and
can indeed threaten the very life and mission of CFC,
which is the life and mission of the Church herself.
The bishops are acting as concerned pastors, aside from
the reality that they love CFC, just as we do. Why can
we not heed these holy and discerning pastors given
by God to us, among other things, for our protection?
Why are we so quick to deny the spiritual discernment
of our 3 bishops, whom we know to be holy men and loving
pastors? Are we not a Catholic community?
My posture
I am for peace, healing, reconciliation and unity. I
do understand that we are in Lamentations and God is
pruning us, so I can look at the difficulties and challenges
quite positively. We have much to learn. But for us
to learn the lessons of Lamentations, we need humility.
In humility, we must defer to our beloved bishops.
If the elections, contrary to the direction of the bishops,
are still held this June 22 as the Council insists,
without dialogue and without hearing the Elders Assembly,
I cannot in conscience participate. I cannot defy the
bishops when they are in the right and are just so very
concerned about our well-being.
The Elders Assembly on June 22 does not have to go to
waste. I can see certain things it can profitably take
on.
(1) Start working on the issues, or at least defining
them.
(2) Appoint a Lamentations Commission that will look
into the issues.
(3) Set parameters and timetables.
(4) Appoint an interim governing “Council.”
(5) Even look into changes in the by-laws proposed by
the BOE.
My appeal
I ask the current Council to humbly heed the bishops.
I ask my brothers to be at the forefront of working
at healing and unity, and this entails not being legalistic
or unyielding or even disrespectful to our bishops.
I continue to assure them, as I have already done so,
that I look on them as my brothers and continue to extend
the hand of peace.
I ask the Elders Assembly to seek the
truth. In this, you may freely ask me anything and I
will try to answer objectively. I know from reports
that there are those doing a demolition job on me. But
I have nothing to hide. I aspire for no position. I
am your brother who all this time, in spite of my own
shortcomings, have tried to be faithful to God and CFC
and to all of you. I believe you can still rely on me
to stand for truth and justice.
Since Manila is the center of our global work and is
the center of governance over CFC, I ask the Metro Manila
elders to seriously consider the proper posture we should
have in relation to the Church hierarchy. It must be
no other than respect and submission. You know that
I myself have been very strong on lay empowerment and
on recognizing the shortcomings of some clergy. But
these 3 bishops are beyond any reproach, and are very
clearly holy men of God. Their word, and their common
discernment, should bear much weight for us.
I ask the Area Heads to consult with
the Area Councils, and for them together
to go to their bishops for advice. Any backlash from
this action of the Council will affect our evangelization
in your provinces. And you cannot point to the Council
because the bishops’ letter is addressed to the
Elders Assembly, which include you (Area Heads).
I ask our beloved bishops to be patient
with us. We are your children who are quarreling. You
have lovingly tried to intervene as pastors. You have
been rejected. Please forgive us. There are still many
of us who look to you for wisdom and guidance and who
are obedient to holy Mother Church. Please continue
to show us the way.
And to all my beloved brothers and sisters in CFC, forgive
us our transgressions. Forgive us for falling short
on our being pastors and models. But please continue
your work. Be focused on Jesus. God loves CFC and will
continue to use CFC in the power of the Spirit. For
those among us who stand in God’s way, God will
deal with us. Please pray for us.
This is the feast of Corpus Christi, the body of Christ.
May the Lord look kindly upon us in CFC, the body of
disciples He has raised, and faithfully renew His favors
and mercies upon us all.
May God bless us all.
In the service of Christ,
Frank Padilla
On the feast of Corpus Christi
Note: This is sent to the global family, as the letter
of the Council has been sent to the global family, in
the interest of fairness, truth and justice. I also
attach the bishops’ letter, which as far as I
know has not been sent out by the Council.
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To
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Letter
of Bishops Lagdameo, Reyes and Villegas
to the Elders Assembly - June 06, 2007
[PDF] |
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Our
Community in Crisis - June 06, 2007
[PDF] |
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