The group added that Cardinal Cupich had directed that members of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius not be interviewed by the board.
Protect our Priests describes itself as a "dedicated group of friends of St. John Cantius Church" formed to support Fr. Phillips, and asks for help to "support the man who gave gave us so much over the years."
The group stated June 20 that "We … remain confident that in this process, justice and truth will prevail over the mendacity, falsehoods, spitefulness and malevolent connivance from which this unpleasant episode originates; and that the accusers, who recklessly have besmirched their own reputations in this matter, will too choose to make themselves 'free', by each of them individually presenting an unconditional retraction."
The Resurrectionists and the Archdiocese of Chicago have both declined to comment on the review board's findings.
Andrea Eisenberg, a member of Protect our Priests, told CNA June 21 that "We can't wait for Father Phillips to return to the parish and the community he founded to complete the work that God intends for him to do. He has been a spiritual father to so many parishioners and has led so many people to a deeper experience of the Catholic faith. It has been a hard three months, but we have been praying fervently for our dear Father Phillips' return."
Fr. Phillips had served at St. John Cantius parish since 1988. In 1998 he founded the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, with the approval of Cardinal Francis George of Chicago and the Congregation of the Resurrection. It follows the Rule of St. Augustine and seeks to "preserve and foster the devotional, musical, catechetical, and artistic traditions of the Catholic Church," its website says.
Mass at St. John Cantius is said in both English and Latin, and in both the extraordinary and ordinary forms of the Roman rite.
Carl Bunderson is the former managing editor of Catholic News Agency.