In very rare move, Pope dismisses conservative US bishop Strickland

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Reuters

November 11, 20238:11 AM EST


VATICAN CITY, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Pope Francis has dismissed Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, one of his fiercest critics among U.S. Roman Catholic conservatives, a Vatican statement said on Saturday. It is very rare for a bishop to be relieved of his duties outright. Usually bishops in trouble with the Vatican are asked to resign before submitting a resignation, which the pope accepts.

Popes make such moves, considered drastic, when a bishop refuses a request to resign. Strickland is 65, 10 years shy of the usual retirement age for bishops. Strickland had said earlier this year that he would refuse to resign if asked. Strickland, a prolific user of social media who was named to the diocese by the late Pope Benedict in 2012, tweeted earlier this year that he rejected Pope Francis' "program undermining the Deposit of Faith".

He has been particularly critical of the pope's attempt to make the Church more welcoming to the LGBT community and attempts by Francis to give lay people more responsibility in the Church and opposed a recent synod. The dismissal followed a Vatican investigation earlier this year into the administration of the Tyler diocese, which Catholic media reports said included a review of his handling of financial affairs.

It was announced simultaneously by the Vatican and the U.S. Bishops Conference. Neither statement gave a reason. There was no immediate response from Strickland. A recording on the diocese's telephone said they were closed for the weekend.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/pope-francis-dismisses-conservative-us-bishop-strickland-2023-11-11/

[hlthe2b]

1. Good on ya, Pope Francis

This creep was elevated by Ratzinger, of course. No surprise there.

[niyad]

2. Somebody needs to do a little digging about this guy. I would

venture to guess that there are some serious skeletons in his closet.

[dalton99a]

3. A good start

[LiberalArkie]

4. UPDATE: Vatican-ordered investigation targets Bishop Strickland of Tyler, Texas

CNA Newsroom, Jun 25, 2023 / 11:11 am



The Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops has completed a formal investigation of Bishop Joseph E. Strickland and the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, according to multiple media reports and confirmed by EWTN News.

The inquiry, known as an apostolic visitation, marks a rare though not unprecedented intervention by Rome into a U.S. diocese and points to possible disciplinary action against Strickland, a widely popular though polarizing Texas firebrand viewed as a culture war champion by many U.S. conservatives for his staunch defense of the unborn, marriage, the traditional Latin liturgy, and Catholic orthodoxy.

The leader of the eastern Texas diocese since 2012, Strickland, 64, has faced criticism for what some see as intemperate social media posts unbecoming of a prominent U.S. prelate, including a May 12 tweet that suggested Pope Francis was “undermining the Deposit of Faith.”

Snip

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254652/vatican-investigation-bishop-strickland-tyler-texas

[Old Crank]

5. Good

Actively going after the man God chose shouldn't be allowed. If you believe that stuff. Seems like he was given enough rope to hang himself.

[meow2u3]

6. You don't defy the Pope's orders and emerge unscathed

That's a lesson rebellious bishop Strickland had to learn the hard way. He's been trying to pass off heretical right-wing ideology as Christian doctrine and, instead of obeying the Pope, he openly defied him.

[vanlassie]

7. Sounds like they may have to change the locks.

[brush]

8. What happens to fired bishops? Do they get booted out of church housing...

no pay? What about retirement, SS and all that?

Not that I'm on the side of this winger bishop, just wondering what the Church's policy is on these matters.

[Mr.Bill]

9. They have to live on the money they have stolen. n/t

[brush]

10. No really, the post doesn't say this guy was stealing money...

just that he was at odds with, and disobeying the Pope.

[Mr.Bill]

11. It also says he was investigated

for the handling of financial affairs.

[keopeli]

12. IIRC, they have "Retreats" way out of the public with limited communication where they house troubled priests.

[jaxexpat]

13. He'll now join the pool of Walmart greeters. He'll really miss the free healthcare.

[riversedge]

15. He is still a priest--just no longer a Bishop with his own diocese. Lots of churches

without priests these days.

[gopiscrap]

16. specially at this level of office

there will be housing for him...he will receive Social Security according to what he paid into it like anyone else, almost all diocese's have a mandated retirement plan and the higher up you are the better it is. Now about saying Mass etc, that's a stickier problem. From what the article states, he has not been stripped of his ordination, so he might be able to go pollute a parish here and there as pulpit supply

[JoseBalow]

18. They get tossed out the door

[aggiesal]

21. Believe it or not, ...

Clergy buy houses and take out mortgages just like the rest of us.

I knew one priest that owned investment rental properties.

[riversedge]

14. "The move comes after an investigation which is understood to have found problems with his governance of the diocese inc

@ctrlamb
Pope Francis has removed Bishop Joseph Strickland from the leadership of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas.

The move comes after an investigation which is understood to have found problems with his governance of the diocese including a breakdown in relations with priests & local bishops

He’s also accused Pope Francis of undermining the deposit of faith and has questioned Francis’ legitimacy.

Link to tweet

?s=20




Pope Francis on Saturday removed from office the bishop of Tyler, Texas, a conservative active on social media who has been a fierce critic of the pontiff and some of his priorities.”

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Hekate]

17. KnR

[DFW]

19. Calling Tom Lehrer........ n/t

[mahina]

20. Great!

He is awful. Hateful and mean. Thanks for the good news.

[LastDemocratInSC]

22. How many Popes can stomp on a pin-head?