Pope Francis forcibly removed a conservative bishop based out of Texas over the weekend.
The Vatican removed Bishop Joseph E. Strickland from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas.
The pope appointed Bishop Joe Vasquez from Austin, Texas, as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Tyler to replace Strickland.
The Vatican reportedly asked Strickland to resign on November 9, however Strickland refused and two days later, Pope Francis removed him from office.
According to the National Catholic Reporter, Strickland said the church was “weak” and “not clear” under Francis’ leadership and was a leading critic of the Pope.
“I believe Pope Francis is the Pope but it is time for me to say that I reject his program of undermining the Deposit of Faith. Follow Jesus,” Strickland wrote on social media.
The Associated Press reported, “It is rare for the pope to forcibly remove a bishop from office. Bishops are required to offer to resign when they reach 75. When the Vatican uncovers issues with governance or other problems that require a bishop to leave office before then, the Vatican usually seeks to pressure him to resign for the good of his diocese and the church.”
From The Blaze:
Cardinal Daniel Nicholas DiNardo – Metropolitan Archbishop of Galveston-Houston – issued a statement that read: "After months of careful consideration by the Dicastery for Bishops and the Holy Father, the decision was reached that the resignation of Bishop Strickland should be requested."
