Five months ago, I already heard the rumors then, followed by emails from my CFC friends in the Philippines, Canada and the U.S about the rift within the CFC leaders. After a while, blogs and forums were sprouting from here and afar with regards to the situation within the organization. I read them all…and yet, I still feel not attuned with the facts of what is it happening. I should have been, because this is the community that I’ve truly seen and witness God’s work being manifested. But strangely, I felt apathy.
I think the real issue is largely theological and to a certain extent, ideological. CfC is a 26-year old organization and debates over its identity and core mandates should be expected. It has become too big, and history will tell you that there'll tend to be some differences in philosophy in such an organization, and eventually, polarization will set in. This sort of insight may seem trite, but I simply think it's the natural cycle of birth and death (and possible rebirth) of such an organization.
There and then I feel I don't really care if CFC splits up or becomes one again. If it simply dies, it has served its purpose. If it dies and rises from the dead, it will serve its purpose as a different entity. If it runs its course by splitting into two or more entities, well it's not like that never happened before. That's how CFC was born in the first place
Then finally, the news from the media came in and both groups of the organization, CFC IC and CFC-FFL officially announced their parting of ways. So sad, The organization that has been renowned for its resolute commitment to keep marriages intact will soon join the ranks of the separated and divorced. It seems its leaders could not work out the marriage within the ranks; no amount of mediation and counseling have been successful in bringing the warring camps together to resolve their issues. Even the valiant efforts of the bishops have been in vain.
Up to now, I wonder what ever happened to the years of CLPs, teachings, covenant orientations, the one on one’s that should have fortified the spirit of unity, humility, meekness of heart and peace that the personalities involved had undergone and taught others to inculcate in their lives. That thougth kept lingering on me like a gum stucked on the soles my shoes all day long. Trying to remove requires bending over and use all your patience to slowly take it off and in the process keeps you thinking why, how and when it got stucked there in the first place. The same thinking process happens when you read all the ‘facts’, the truths, the half-truths and realities of what is happening in our community…the doubts, the misgivings and the suspicions are starting to creep in.
I won’t dwell on what has happened, it’s all water under the bridge now, as they say. What I want to table now is what would happened to us here members in Australia…where do our obedience (or loyalties) lie? What is in store for us in the future? I’ve started to realized the flaws of my being apathetic is not option…for I see the rippling effects of the division in Manila has brought some unpleasant taste for the leaders here in Australia.
My wife forwarded me an email sent by Bro. Oliver Molina. His email, though his personal views and thesis of what lies ahead for CFC Australia, is reflective of the confusion as well as the dillemna of our present CFC leaders and members as they struggle to find the direction our organizaion is headed to. He has validly laid out the options and the repercussions of each possible scenario if and when the leaders and members finally decide. A very calm and peaceful person, Bro Oliver, in his dissertion, demonstrates how troubled he is and his need to vent his views so that people, like me and you, would come up with our thoughts and put a share of our voice in this crucial phase of our organization.
Read Bro. Oliver Molina's email.
Everyone have their opinions. Everyone have their own sides. But if you are working for God, is it really right to even have a side, when both sides have their own positive intentions? Isn't it just enough to be focused on the service and the mission work and not have sides? Not that easy, I guess…
So,where do I stand, or to put more more succinctly, what side to I intend to join with?
I will defer myself to the wisdom of the majority (the general membership) and I would encourage my brothers and sisters to have their choice heard by the NCA.
But let me put it in the right perspective…The real issue why CFC IC and FFL split up is the differential and idealogical outlook with regards to Gawad Kalinga (GK) no ifs or buts. It is the root cause of the separation. All other differences were borne out of this core issue and differing views were fruits that grew from this root.
And since the leaders (and the groups) cannot agree on this core subject, it doesn’t mean they cannot support it or they couldn’t CO-EXIST (even in separate entities) to support it in one form or another. We may have an autonomous CFC in Australia, or a IC-aligned CFC or still an FFL-aligned CFC membership, but it doesn’t erase the fact that we are heart and soul CFC, mandated to spread God’s name thru service, fellowship,christian role modelling, family upliftment and social work (GK). Whatever the decision of National Council in Australia will be, we should encourage all other members to support it, work within the frames of our mandate and co-exist with other members who may decide to part ways. God’s work should not be bound by organizational structure, it is universal in nature. Mark 9:40 "For he who is not against us is for us.”
I do not see a permanent solution for this quandary we have a the moment. But we could always work out a temporal accomodation for all these problems just as long as it should be done in the position and character of humility, meekness, peace in our hearts and calmness in spirit.
From my scratchy bible recollection, a reading from the St Paul (Ephesians 4:1-6) “I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you to walk worthily of the calling where with you were called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love; giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all...” show how we should treat discord and seek unity from so many diverse issues we have today. God’s inspired apostle lays down a micro-platform for unity that concerns the two main sources of discord among those who profess to follow Christ. One has to do with temperament, the other with teaching. The recognition of these two problematic areas could go a long way towards healing division.
Personally, if all is done with and we have separate entities or groups, I will not hesitate to serve any other group, whatever alignment they are with, as long as they continue to spread God’s word by transforming lives and being true witnesses of our catholic faith. I would even divide my tithes and share my donation equally to each of those groups.
I’ve joined this community not for the CFC name, nor the organizational structure. I joined this community for I truly believe this is the place I could insignificantly repay God’s blessings to me and at the same fullfill my heart’s desire that other people would also enjoy His blessings by knowing Him and loving Him.
And maybe, Someone up there is just playing with our faith and just so amused by our actions. Keep the faith and always strive to be happy.
