A complete timeline of the events that placed Jean Vanier and Father Thomas Philippe at the center of investigations launched by L'Arche International.
1946: Father Thomas Philippe establishes L'Eau Vive, an international formation center in Soisy-sur-Seine.
1950: After leaving the Navy, Jean Vanier arrives at L'Eau Vive. Father Thomas becomes his spiritual director.
April 1952: Following accusations and testimonies from women against Father Thomas Philippe, the Master General of the Dominican order removes him from L'Eau Vive. The investigation is conducted by the Holy Office. Father Thomas appoints Jean Vanier to take his place as director of L'Eau Vive.
May 1956: The Holy Office condemns Father Thomas Philippe to deposition—stripping him of teaching authority, ministry, and the right to administer sacraments. The Holy Office orders L'Eau Vive closed and its members dispersed; they are permanently forbidden to gather elsewhere.
1963: Father Thomas Philippe is permitted to return to France. He goes to Trosly, where he becomes chaplain (spiritual assistant) at Val Fleury, an institution serving people with intellectual disabilities.
1964: Jean Vanier moves to Trosly and founds L'Arche.
1993: Father Thomas Philippe dies. May 2019: Jean Vanier dies.
The Inquiry
June 2014: L'Arche International and the Catholic Church receive testimonies from two women accusing Father Thomas Philippe of serious sexual misconduct during spiritual direction sessions in the 1970s and 1980s.
December 2014: A canonical inquiry is launched at the request of L'Arche International leadership, under the direction of Msgr. d'Ornellas, the organization's spiritual guide.
March 2015: L'Arche International receives the conclusions of the canonical inquiry and releases a letter available on the L'Arche International website.
May 2015: Jean Vanier sends a statement in response to the canonical inquiry findings.
May 2016: L'Arche leadership receives testimony from a longtime L'Arche member alleging misconduct by Jean Vanier toward her after L'Arche's founding.
May 2016–October 2016: The testimony is examined by external experts. The International Leadership Team and board chair are informed of the dossier. Jean Vanier acknowledges these relationships, which he believed were mutual. He asks forgiveness from the woman, who is informed of L'Arche's actions in response to her testimony.
October 2016: Jean Vanier writes a second letter reiterating his condemnation of Father Thomas Philippe's conduct.
March 2019: L'Arche leadership learns of a new testimony from a woman alleging misconduct by Jean Vanier.
April 8, 2019: Decision to commission an independent inquiry.
May 2019: Jean Vanier dies.
June 2019: The inquiry is entrusted to GCPS, a UK-based organization dedicated to helping institutions improve their abuse prevention and reporting systems.
May–June 2019: L'Arche International gains access to Jean Vanier's archives and those of the French Dominican Province relating to Father Thomas Philippe in Paris.
July 2019: Antoine Mourges, a historian, is commissioned by L'Arche International to prepare a historical note to supplement GCPS's work.
February 2020: Inquiry results are released and a statement issued on behalf of L'Arche.
Translation by Cristina Tersigni