[2] Alongside teaching theology and philosophy, Philippe conducted retreats (at which his sexual abuse cases took place) and gave spiritual direction.

[4] In 1938, he had a so-called "spiritual experience" at Rome while contemplating the painting of Mater Admirabilis, which was the beginning of a process whereby he developed a heterodox and sexually abusive theology based on "Marian Maximalism".

[6] He taught theology at Le Saulchoir and at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome, before starting various religious communities, including L'Eau Vive (living water).

Paul Weindling, in his 2010 book, said:[9] Thomas Philippe ... inspired vibrant spirituality and social activism, standing in the Dominican tradition of saving souls through preaching while looking to the very earliest Christian communities.

[11] In the early 1950s, after complaints from two women, Philippe was ordered to leave the L'Eau Vive center and travel to Rome for a canonical investigation.

[5] In 2015, a second canonical instruction validated by Pierre d'Ornellas, Archbishop of Rennes, stated that Philippe was guilty of sexual abuse in the context of spiritual guidance of adult women.

[14] In early 2016, the association Aid to Victims of Deviant Religious Movements in Europe and their Families (AVREF)[15] published the testimony of a former Carmelite nun, who recounted in detail the story of her sexual relationship with Philippe.

[20] Several nuns - victims of the sexual abuse of Phillipe and his brother - testified in a documentary broadcast on Arte and on Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS).

[21] In February 2020, L'Arche International issued its Summary Report,[22] being a summary of the full report by GCPS Consulting (a UK-based group with expertise in the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse) and the historical work by Antoine Mourges, concerning alleged or proven sexual abuse of women by Thomas Philippe and Jean Vanier.