Pope Francis dismissed prominent conservative critic Bishop John Strickland, of Tyler, Texas, on Saturday, following an investigation earlier this year into the fiery diocese.
The Vatican did not explain the reason for Strickland’s dismissal.
The move was seen as an unusual move as troubled bishops in the Catholic church are usually asked or pressured to resign instead of outright removal.
“The Holy Father has relieved from the pastoral governance of the diocese of Tyler (US) Joseph E. Strickland,” the Vatican said in a brief statement, adding that Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin had been named apostolic administrator of the diocese.
Strickland’s dismissal comes months after the Vatican launched an investigation, called an “apostolic visitation” by the church, into the Tyler diocese in June.
A US cardinal said the investigation covered “all aspects of governance and leadership” in the diocese.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas, said following the investigation, it was “impossible” for Strickland to remain in his role.
The Vatican announced that Pope Francis has dismissed his prominent conservative critic Bishop John Strickland of Tyler, Texas. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con Pope Francis’ intervention has been a drastic step, as senior priests are usually pressured to resign instead of being completely fired. MAURIZIO BRAMBATTI/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Strickland, who has aligned himself with the ultra-conservative wing of the US Catholic Church, refused to resign when asked to do so on Thursday, prompting the intervention of Pope Francis, DiNardo said.
Earlier this year, Strickland said that he would refuse to resign if asked to do so.
Appointed to the diocese in 2012 by the late Pope Benedict, Strickland emerged as one of the harshest critics of Pope Francis, claiming X earlier this year that he rejected the Church leader’s “program that undermines the Deposit of Faith”.
Strickland earlier this year wrote that he rejected “Pope Francis’ program that undermines the Deposit of Faith.” USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Strickland has been vocally opposed to Pope Francis’ efforts to help the LGBTQ community feel more welcome in the Catholic Church, as well as efforts to give everyday individuals more responsibility.
Ahead of the October synod, he wrote in an August letter that “evil and false messages” had “attacked” the church.
Last year, Strickland was one of a handful of American bishops to publicly defend anti-abortion priest Frank Pavone when the Vatican rebuffed him over his “blasphemous” social media posts.
“The blasphemy is that this holy priesthood is revoked while an evil president promotes the denial of truth and the killing of unborn babies at all times, Vatican officials promote immorality and the denial of the deposit of faith and priests promote life-destroying gender confusion… evil,” Strickland write at X at that time.
With Postal wire.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
