Pope Francis has made the decision to remove Bishop Joseph Strickland, the leader of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, from his position. This comes after the conservative bishop openly criticized the pontiff and accused him of undermining the Catholic faith. The Vatican announced the decision in a brief statement, appointing Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin as the interim apostolic administrator.
In May, Bishop Strickland took to Twitter to express his rejection of Pope Francis’ program, stating that while he believes Francis is the Pope, he disagrees with his actions that undermine the Deposit of Faith. The bishop also found himself under investigation by the Vatican this year, vowing not to resign voluntarily.
The removal of a bishop by the Pope is an extremely rare occurrence and typically happens when a bishop refuses to resign. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston confirmed that the Vatican investigators concluded that the continuation of Bishop Strickland in office was not feasible. The Pope requested his resignation, which was refused.
Bishop Strickland, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, has been a vocal critic of Pope Francis, claiming that the Roman Catholic Church has become weak under his leadership. He has also publicly criticized President Biden on issues such as abortion.
One of the reasons cited for Bishop Strickland’s removal was his refusal to comply with one of Pope Francis’ progressive reforms, which sought to restrict the old Latin Mass. Strickland stood firm, stating that he could not starve out part of his flock and that he feels at peace in the Lord and the truth.
The news of Bishop Strickland’s removal has sparked strong reactions among conservative Catholics. Michael J. Matt, editor of traditionalist Catholic newspaper The Remnant, called it “total war” and expressed concern over the danger Francis poses not just to Catholics but to the world as a whole.
In August, Pope Francis criticized conservative Catholic leaders in the U.S., accusing them of replacing faith with political ideology. He emphasized the need for a correct understanding of Church doctrine and stated that it allows for change over time on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage.
The Diocese of Tyler has acknowledged Bishop Strickland’s removal and assured that their work will continue in sharing the Gospel and serving the needs of all people with compassion and love.
Digital has reached out to the Catholic diocese in Tyler for comment on this matter.
