Rome (AP) — Pope Francis took the surprising step on Saturday of forcefully removing the bishop of Tyler, Texas, a conservative prelate known for his active presence on social media and his staunch criticism of the pontiff. Bishop Joseph Strickland had become a symbol of the divisions within the U.S. Catholic hierarchy.
In a brief statement, the Vatican announced that Francis had “relieved” Bishop Joseph Strickland of his pastoral duties in Tyler and appointed the bishop of Austin as the temporary administrator.
Strickland, 65, had repeatedly criticized Pope Francis, accusing him of “undermining the deposit of faith” in a tweet earlier this year. He had also been vocal about his opposition to the discussion of controversial topics, including the inclusion of LGBTQ+ Catholics, at a recent meeting on the future of the Catholic Church.
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Earlier this year, the Vatican launched an investigation into Strickland’s governance amid reports of doctrinally unorthodox claims. However, the findings of this inquiry were never made public, and Strickland himself refused to resign voluntarily, claiming that he had been given a mandate to serve by the late Pope Benedict XVI, and had not been informed about the specific nature of the allegations against him.
His dismissal immediately sparked outrage among some conservatives and traditionalists, who saw Strickland as a leading figure countering Francis’ progressive reforms. Editor of the traditionalist newspaper The Remnant, Michael J. Matt, described Francis as a “clear and present danger” to both Catholics and the wider world.
Following an exhaustive investigation by two Vatican-appointed bishops, it was recommended to Francis that Strickland’s continuation in office was not feasible. When asked to resign on November 9, Strickland declined, prompting Francis to remove him from his position two days later, in a rare move by the pope.
Francis has not concealed his unease with the conservative factions within the U.S. Catholic hierarchy. In comments to Portuguese Jesuits, he criticized the “backwardness” of these bishops and emphasized the need for change over time based on a correct understanding of Catholic doctrine.
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In Tyler’s announcement of Strickland’s removal, the diocese emphasized its ongoing mission to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and create a welcoming environment for all individuals to encounter God.
In his own social media post before the Vatican’s announcement, Strickland wrote a prayer about Christ being the “way, the truth and the life, yesterday, today and forever.”
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