According to a Vatican statement on Saturday, Pope Francis has removed Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, who has been a vocal critic of the pope within the U.S. Catholic conservative community.
It is highly unusual for a Roman Catholic bishop to be completely relieved of his duties. Typically, bishops facing issues with the Vatican are asked to resign before their resignation is accepted by the pope.
Popes resort to such extreme measures when a bishop refuses to step down voluntarily. At 65, Strickland is 10 years away from the usual retirement age for bishops.
Strickland has been known for his frequent use of social media and has held the position of bishop of the diocese since 2012. This year, he tweeted his rejection of the pope’s “program undermining the Deposit of Faith”.
The dismissal comes after a Vatican investigation earlier this year into the governance of the Tyler diocese, which included a review of Strickland’s handling of financial matters, as reported by Catholic media.
The announcement of the dismissal was made simultaneously by the Vatican and the U.S. Bishops Conference. Neither statement provided a reason for the decision. Strickland has not yet responded to the news.
As per the statement, Francis has appointed Joe Vasquez, the bishop of Austin, Texas, as the interim administrator of the diocese.
(Reporting by Phil Pullella, writing by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
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