Pope Francis on Saturday dismissed US bishop Joseph Strickland, a prominent conservative who had repeatedly criticised his papacy, following concerns over the clergyman’s leadership and governance.
The Vatican did not explain the move, a rare sacking in the Catholic Church, where troublesome senior clerics are normally encouraged — or told — to resign.
But a US cardinal said it was linked to an in-quiry ordered by Francis into “all aspects of governance and leadership” of Strickland’s Tyler diocese in Texas.
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, also of Texas, said the so-called apostolic visitation in June had re-ported back that it was “not feasible” that the bishop stay in office. He revealed that Strickland, 65, had been asked on Thursday to resign, but refused — prompting Francis to step in.
“The Holy Father has relieved from the pastoral governance of the diocese of Tyler (US) Joseph E. Strickland,” the Vatican said in a statement.
It said the bishop of Austin, Joe Vasquez, had been named as apostolic administrator of the dio-cese, but gave no further details.
“I stand by all the things that were listed as complaints against me,” Strickland told a conservative Canadian Catholic website in an article published Saturday, adding that he did not implement some of Francis’s reforms because “I can’t starve out part of my flock.”
“I’d do it the same way again,” he was quoted by LifeSiteNews as saying. Strickland was appointed by Benedict XVI in 2012, and became one of the most prominent critics of his successor, Pope Francis.
The Argentine pope, 86, has sought since taking office 10 years ago to forge a more compassionate Church, open to different views.
But he has faced intense opposition from critics — particularly in the United States — who accuse him of causing confusion and failing to uphold key Catholic beliefs. In a message earlier this year on X, formerly Twitter, Strickland said that while he recognised Francis as the pope, “I reject his programme of undermining the deposit of faith”.
Many of Francis’ critics complain he is not outspoken enough on abortion and too compassionate towards homosexuals and divorcees. Francis, in turn, lamented earlier this year the “strong reactionary attitude” of some Catholics in the US, who he said do not understand the “evolu-tion in the understanding of matters of faith and morals”.—AFP
