It seems we'll never know what happened at St. John Cantius, Chicago.
So says New Catholic at Rorate Caeli: "After months of speculation, the Congregation of the Resurrection (C.R.), the order to which the founder of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, Fr. Frank Phillips, belonged, issued a final statement on his situation..."
Something happened. What happened? The Congregation of the Ressurrection and the Archdiocese of Chicago have an obligation to make public those parts of their conclusions that can be made public (that is, with names or other information that could identify specific persons blacked out). Otherwise, the removal of Fr. Phillips will be seen as a persecution motivated not by his "improper conduct" (what was it?), but actually by his good work at St. John Cantius. The people have a rightful expectation to know what actually happened. - New Catholic
Something happened. Of course something happened. Cardinal Cupich obviously felt he shouldn't return. He has no obligation to explain himself - they never do - unless some legal suit develops. If Fr. Phillips hasn't been silenced - then perhaps he can explain what happened. If there remain credible allegations perhaps someone can bring forth a civil suit of inquiry? But the original allegations involved adult men. Maybe it was consensual? I'm way out of my league here.
I seriously don't know and I'm not interested in the answer - unless it involves a sort of Catholic #Metoo development. After the Cardinal McCarrick story broke, I'd be interested in cleaning up the scandal that keeps giving. Now that it's safe to point out that the homosexuals in the clergy are not limited to the Novus Ordo, perhaps men will come forward and Catholic teaching, as well as Catholic discipline on the admission of homosexuals to seminary and religious life can be clarified. (Or at least get rid of the hypocrisy and cover up surrounding it. Maybe Fr. Martin could take the lead here?)
I hope it all gets sorted out.
