JMJ
June 25, 2018
Father Phillips, founder of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, pastor of St. John Cantius Roman Catholic Church on Carpenter St. in Chicago ,who on Palm Sunday , 2018 was ordered from his pulpit to house arrest , who was denied the right to say a public Mass, administer the Sacraments and have any contact with members of his Order or members of his parish has been completely exonerated from any wrong doing.
Cardinal Cupich of Chicago Archdiocese refuses to reenstate Fr. Phillips to any priestly duties, to his parish, to be head of the Canons Regular. He is to live in the house of the Resurrectionist Priests.
This is brute thuggery with no basis, no rationale, no justification and is solely the arbitrary decision of Cardinal Cupich. What his motives are is mere speculation and in many ways are irrelevant. However it is very clear that Cardinal Cupich’s intention is to destroy all the work of Fr. Phillips and the late Cardinal George, to destroy the order of priests and brothers of the Canons Regular and scatter the flock of St. John Cantius.
Fr. Phillips said in a confidential meeting of a few loyalists “ It is now up to the Laity to fight this.”
We, John and Gay Caswell of Brabant Lake, Saskatchewan , Canada are calling on the Faithful around the world to rally and fight this act of sheer blatant brutality and injustice. When a legal investigation is completed, when a verdict is given then one expects all parties to abide by that decision. Father Phillips is completely exonerated. Cardinal Cupich refuses to abide by that decision. Cardinal Cupich is acting under no proper authority except his own will.
On Holy Thursday the Pope washes the feet of twelve laity to remind us that the Pope is a servant as Christ is a servant. A priest wears a round collar about his neck to tell us that he is a slave to Christ and the Church.
To whom is Cardinal Cupich a servant? Certainly not to his priest Father Phillips who has served in the Chicago diocese all his life. He is not a servant of any priest , anywhere because he has just told them that your priestly duties can be pulled arbitrarily at any time whenever someone like me wants to destroy your vocation without cause.
He is not a servant to the parishioners of St. John Cantius who have been brought to the Supper of the Lamb by Fr. Phillips’ priests.
He is not a servant of those who want a living , growing Church, not a freefall into her demise.
He is not a servant of Justice, and of Truth. He appears to be a servant of himself, of his will, his prejudices and his desires.
Christ’s Church is under attack. Her priests are under attack. Please do what you can to defend Her and them. Please pass this on to any media contacts and clerical authorities , friends and families. St. Michael defend us. Gay
