maaxx.ca

Vatican –

Pope Francis fired United States Bishop Joseph Strickland, known as a prominent conservative figure who had repeatedly criticized his papacy. The Vatican has not explained in detail the reasons for this action.

Reported AFPSunday (11/12/2023) dismissal is a rare phenomenon in the Catholic Church, where problematic senior religious leaders are usually encouraged – or asked – to resign.

However, a US cardinal said it was linked to an investigation ordered by Pope Francis into “all aspects of governance and leadership” in Tyler Strickland’s diocese in Texas.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, also of Texas, said an apostolic visit in June reported that it was “impossible” for Archbishop Strickland to remain in office. He said Strickland (65) was asked to resign but refused and was fired by Pope Francis.

“The Holy Father has withdrawn from the pastoral administration of the Diocese of Tyler (United States) of Joseph E. Strickland,” the Vatican said in a statement.

Austin Bishop Joe Vasquez was named apostolic administrator of the diocese, but did not provide further details.

“I stand by all the complaints against me,” Strickland told the conservative website Canadian Catholic in an article published Saturday, adding that he had not implemented some of Pope Francis’ reforms because “I could not achieve them. …part of my herd is dying of starvation.

“I would do the same thing again,” he said, as quoted by LifeSiteNews.

For your information, Strickland was appointed by Benedict XVI in 2012 and has become one of Pope Francis’ most prominent critics. The Argentine pope has faced fierce opposition from critics – particularly in the United States – who accuse him of sowing confusion and failing to respect fundamental Catholic beliefs.

In a post earlier this year on the social network

Many of Pope Francis’ critics accuse him of not being outspoken enough on abortion and of being too lenient toward homosexuals and divorce.

Francis, for his part, deplored earlier this year the “strongly reactionary attitude” of some Catholics in the United States, who he said did not understand “the evolution in the understanding of questions of faith and morality.” .

There are more than 120,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Tyler, out of a total population of more than 1.4 million, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

For your information, Pope Francis also similarly fired a bishop from Puerto Rico, Daniel Fernandez Torres, in March 2022. At that time, the Vatican also did not provide a reason.

Torres admitted he was told he was not “obedient” to the pope and did not have good relationships with his fellow bishops. Media reports at the time noted that Torres supported those who rejected mandatory coronavirus vaccination.

See also Video: Iranian President: US blocks ceasefire in Gaza

(haf/imk)