Founder of St John Cantius ordered to move to St. Louis

At the request of his superior, Fr. Szarek, Fr. Phillips has now relocated to St. Louis where he will presumably be living in a Resurrectionist facility. Today, Protect our Priests, the independent St. John Cantius parishioners group, published this letter from Fr. Phillips:

continue at Mahound's Paradise

Text of Fr. Phillips Canon Law Letter to Cardinal Cupich

With the Archdiocese of Chicago refusing to shed light on precisely what it is charging the head of the St John Cantius order with, we are left to read between the lines.  Oakes has obtained the letter of Fr. Phillips to Cdl. Cupich regarding his canonical defense. 

http://mahoundsparadise.blogspot.com/2018/06/exclusive-text-of-fr-phillips-canon-law.html

To speak in layman's terms, Fr. Phillips' legal counsel argued that based upon the procedural actions and statements of the Archdiocese in March, the initial actions of Cardinal Cupich to remove Fr. Phillips from public ministry were unfair and unjust, or, more to the point, invalid under canon law. Fr. Phillips was prematurely judged guilty, harshly disciplined and publicly humiliated without, at that point, sufficient procedure or cause. Indeed, these actions were undertaken before the commencement of the formal investigation by the Resurrectionists. Because he was already guilty, testimony by any of the priests and brothers of the Canons - many of whom would presumably be in a good position to know about the existence or absence of "improper conduct" on the part of Fr. Phillips - was ruled out in the investigation into whether or not he was guilty.

Of course it sounds unjust. It also frankly sounds bizarre.

I assumed from the beginning that there must have been serious misconduct by Fr. Phillips, giving the benefit of the doubt to the Archdiocese.  Other than ideological warfare, it just doesn't make sense to go after the Canons like this.  It seems like Cardinal Cupich and the Archdiocese seriously overstepped here.  I'll wait for the next update.... but what I'm hearing makes it look very bad for the Archdiocese. 

Fr. Phillips Permanently Out at St. John Cantius, Faculties for Public Ministry Remain Withdrawn

A few hours ago, this letter from Fr. Gene Szarek, the Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Resurrection (the "Resurrectionists") - the order that investigated Fr. Frank Phillips, the pastor of Chicago's St. John Cantius, concerning allegations of "improper conduct involving adult males" - was released. It was enclosed in this week's bulletin at tonight's anticipatory Mass, and is now posted on the St. John Cantius website:

The letter stated that "(w)e accept the Archdiocese's decision that Fr. Phillips' faculties for public-ministry will remain withdrawn and that he will not return as pastor of St. John Cantius and as Superior of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius."

continue at Mahound's

Report: Review Panel has found St. John Cantius head "innocent" of misconduct charges

From GoFundMe: Legal Defense Fund for Fr. Phillips

Dear visitors and contributors,

I have good news to share with everyone.

Sources close to the investigation have advised me that the review panel of the Congregation of the Resurrection has found Fr. Phillips innocent of the accusations which were the basis upon which he was removed as Pastor of St. John Cantius, and Superior of the Canons Regular.

We therefore would expect that Fr. Phillips should be permitted to return to his regular duties in the near future, unless Cardinal Cupich has other plans.

An official announcement is still due from the Archdiocese of Chicago in regard to this matter. Further developments are pending and will be announced as they develop.

Please keep Fr. Phillips and all concerned in your daily prayers until this matter is officially closed.

Thank you,

James Michael Francis Komaniecki
jmk@RestoreAmericanLiberty.com

background

Matt Abbott: Latest on St. John Cantius

I emailed the Congregation of the Resurrection and received a response from Father Gene Szarek, provincial superior of the order.

I had asked: “I'm inquiring as to whether there's been a decision about the status of Father C. Frank Phillips of St. John Cantius Church? It's my understanding that the Congregation of the Resurrection has completed its own investigation into the allegations of inappropriate conduct by Father Phillips.”

Father Szarek responded: “No final decision has been reached. When it is, interested persons will be informed. Thank you for your inquiry.”

I followed up with this question: “Thank you, Father. Are you able to divulge what the review board concluded as to the veracity of the allegations?”

Father Szarek responded: “Not yet. I want to give the cardinal an opportunity to review the report before I make comments about it.”

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/180322

HT Steve Skojec

Longtime pastor removed from St. John Cantius Catholic Parish in Chicago amid investigation

The Rev. C. Frank Phillips, founder of a religious order of men and pastor at the storied St. John Cantius Catholic Parish, was removed last week by the Archdiocese of Chicago amid an investigation into allegations of improper conduct with adult men, according to church officials.

In a statement to parishioners, Cardinal Blase Cupich explained that he had made the decision to “withdraw” Phillips after learning “of credible allegations of improper conduct involving adult men.” Anne Maselli, a spokeswoman for the archdiocese, said in an email that the allegations do not involve any minors.

continue at Chicago Tribune

A few other details:

The religious order of St John Cantius was founded by Canon Phillips.  However, he remains a member of the Congregation of the Resurrection and is not actually a Canon of St John Cantius, even though he founded the canons and was their superior.

The Archdiocese of Chicago owns the St John Cantius parish itself.  For whatever reason, Cardinal George never made the order independant which seems odd.

A few months ago, Bishop Athanasius Schneider was scheduled to give the Canons a spiritual retreat. Cardinal Cupich personally intervened and forbid Bishop Athanasius Schneider from preaching in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Also see: Pope denounces ‘restorationist’ orders

Update:

This weekend, in a letter read out during 5:00 Mass on Saturday and repeated during the 7:30, 9:00, 11:00 and 12:30 Masses on Sunday, the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that Fr. Frank Phillips had been removed as Pastor of St. John Cantius and as Superior of the Order that he founded, the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius