The Rev. C. Frank Phillips, pastor at St. John Cantius Catholic Parish, has been removed from his priestly duties after an investigation
The pastor of a Chicago Roman Catholic Church has been stripped of his religious duties after an investigation by a religious order.
A letter from the Congregation of the Resurrection was distributed Sunday to members of St. John Cantius Catholic Parish announced the removal of the Rev. C. Frank Phillips.
The letter informed churchgoers the order’s review board had looked into allegations of improper conduct involving adult men made against Phillips, who was removed as St. John Cantius’ pastor in March.
‘We accept the Archdiocese’s decision that Fr. Phillips’ faculties for public ministry will remain withdrawn and that he not return as pastor of St. John Cantius and as Superior of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius,’ the letter said.
Phillips’ attorney Steve Komie told the Chicago Tribune the review board determined Phillips hadn’t violated any civil, canon or criminal law but would not be allowed back.
Rev. Phillips was removed from his duties in March and had to live away from the parish
A letter was sent to parishioners explaining Rev. Philips’ departure but with few actual details
Archdiocese of Chicago spokeswoman Paula Waters said although no church, civil, criminal or secular law was violated by Phillips, there were standards of behavior Phillips did not meet that warranted his removal.
She noted the review board did not recommend Phillips’ return to St. John Cantius.
‘There are standards for behavior,’ archdiocese spokeswoman Paula Waters said. ‘The review board did not recommend that he be returned as the pastor of St. John Cantius. And so, based on their recommendation that he not return and on other factors, the cardinal decided that his faculties to minister would remain withdrawn.’
Waters said the archdiocese would need to satisfied that Phillips is not a threat to anyone and that he could observe the archdiocese’s code of conduct code of conduct and that doesn’t look likely in the immediate future.
A review board looked into allegations of improper conduct involving adult men
Phillips is currently in Rome consulting with members of his congregation.
David Carollo who was a parishioner of St. John Cantius for more than 30 years, said the decision to remove Phillips was ‘puzzling’ and ‘contradictory.’
‘A reputation is a difficult thing to get back. That’s part of the problem here,’ Carollo, 63, said. ‘I find it hard to believe there’s any wrongdoing by the father. That’s not the man I know.
‘He took a parish that was on the chopping block. Attendance was low,’ Carollo said. ‘He came in there and he introduced the traditional Mass again. He helped bring a lot of people back.’
After Phillips was removed in March, his supporters decided to rally around him and supposed him financially.
The nonprofit Protect our Priests has collected donations in a legal defense fund to help pay for Phillips’ legal expenses. Eisenberg declined to say how much money the defense fund has raised, but said support has been ‘surprisingly generous.’ Nearly $7,800 was raised as of early Monday afternoon through a GoFundMe campaign that aimed to help pay Phillips’ legal bills.
St. John Cantius Church in Chicago, Illinois which is now looking for a few pastor