Appointment to Pontifical Council for the Family

MANILA, October 28, 2009­The defense of the Catholic Church's doctrines on family and life remains a critical issue of debate in a liberal generation we have at the present, but Frank and Geraldine Padilla vowed to continue working for the renewal of family and defense of life no matter how tough it gets.

After having been re-appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Council for the Family, the Padillas admitted that they are facing truckload of works to do with the Council given the numerous attacks being directed against the Church's doctrines on family and life.

"The tougher challenges come not as a consequence of the reappointment, but the times that we live in, with family and life under greater attack especially from powerful forces including the United States government, the European Union, the United Nations, the liberal media, the homosexualist philosophy etc. It is only the Catholic Church that is actually standing up for marriage, family and life. Thus the Catholic Church is also the object of attack. Family and life are the critical issues of this third millennium," Frank said.

But despite the challenge, the Padillas promised their untiring commitment with the Vatican's pro-family and pro-life cause, adding that their involvement with the Couples for Foundation for Family and Life will help them fulfill their duties for the Council.

"CFC-FFL's mission is the renewal of the family and the defense of life. We are right there in the forefront of the struggle against anti-family and anti-life forces. We are committed to strengthen the family, and build a worldwide network of committed families that will allow the light of Christ to shine forth. So our involvement in CFC-FFL keeps us grounded on what is going on, not just in the Philippines but also throughout the world, and equips us with the approaches and programs that are important for this work," said Frank, who is con-currently the servant general of CFC-FFL.

The Padillas are among the 19 couples appointed from around the globe to the Council. Since their first appointment in 2003, the Padillas are the only Filipino and Asian couple chosen by the Holy Father for a slot in the lineup. But even before their stint at the Vatican, the couple's advocacy has been always geared towards fidelity.

"We strive to become models that Filipino married couples can emulate. We have been married for 38 years. We hope to be witnesses of how marriage and family can be the happiest aspects of our lives, if lived in the Lord," Geraldine added. (Kris Bayos)