Pope’s Unprecedented Decision to Remove Conservative US Bishop Strickland

Pope Francis presides over the Synod of Bishops’ closing Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on October 29, 2023 (image credits: Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS). Vatican City, Nov 11 (Reuters) – In a rare move, Pope Francis has dismissed Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, a staunch critic of U.S. Roman Catholic conservatives, according to a statement from the Vatican on Saturday. Dismissals are uncommon, with troubled bishops usually asked to resign and then their resignation accepted by the pope. Drastic measures are only taken when a bishop refuses to resign, as was the case with the 65-year-old Strickland, who stated he would not voluntarily step down earlier this year. Strickland has been a vocal critic of Pope Francis’ efforts to modernize the Church and make it more inclusive, particularly regarding the LGBT community. His refusal to resign followed a Vatican investigation earlier this year into his diocese’s administration, including financial matters. The dismissal was announced simultaneously by the Vatican and the U.S. Bishops Conference, citing no specific reason. Strickland, who is well-known in ultra-conservative U.S. Catholic circles and has a national following, became one of the Church’s most prominent figures. His strong support for former U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as his outspoken views, have generated controversy. In contrast to his dismissal, he defended another ultra-conservative U.S. priest who was removed from the Church by the Vatican last year. The announcement from the Vatican also revealed that Francis has named the bishop of Austin, Texas, Joe Vasquez, as the interim administrator of the Tyler diocese. The Vatican’s actions illustrate how the Catholic Church’s leadership deals with its conservative faction in the United States. (Reporting by Phil Pullella, Alvise Armellini; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Christina Fincher)

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