Pope Francis sacks Texan bishop after criticism of reforms

Pope Francis has fired the Texan bishop Joseph Strickland, a fierce critic who has questioned the Pope’s leadership of the Catholic church.

The Vatican said that the bishop will be “relieved” of his responsibilities due to the Tyler Diocese’s investigations.

Leading the charge against the Pope’s reforms in US Catholicism is Bishop Strickland.

Francis’ remarks against the “backwardness” of some US Catholic church leaders prompted his ouster.

Bishop Strickland has launched a series of criticisms against the Pope’s efforts to modernize the Catholic Church’s stance on social issues and inclusivity, including topics such as abortion, transgender rights, and same-sex marriage.

In July, he expressed concern that many fundamental teachings of the Catholic faith were being questioned, particularly what he perceived as attempts to undermine the traditional view of marriage as a union exclusively between a man and a woman, which he regarded as established by God. He also criticized those who he believed were rejecting their biologically assigned gender identity as “disordered.”

Bishop Strickland’s letter suggested that any attempts to alter “immutable” aspects of Catholic doctrine would lead to an irreparable schism within the Church, and he characterized those advocating for change as the true source of division.

Previously, Bishop Strickland had been under investigation by the Vatican and had declined an opportunity to resign. In a public letter in September, he challenged the Pope to remove him from his position, stating that he couldn’t resign as Bishop of Tyler because it would be akin to abandoning his congregation.

A right-wing group called the “Coalition for Canceled Priests” held a conference earlier in the year to show support for Bishop Strickland during the investigation.

The Vatican’s decision to remove him from his position followed an apostolic visitation ordered by the Pope in June within the Diocese of Tyler. Additionally, the investigation examined the handling of financial matters within the diocese.

Bishop Strickland, who has held his position since 2012, was appointed during the papacy of Benedict XVI.

These developments are in line with the Pope’s efforts to make the Catholic Church more progressive during his papacy.

On Thursday, the Vatican announced that transgender individuals can receive baptism within the Catholic Church, provided that it does not lead to scandal or “confusion.”

In October, the Pope indicated that the Church might be open to blessing same-sex couples, emphasizing the importance of not being solely judgmental, but rather embracing a more inclusive approach.

During a speech at the World Youth Day celebrations in Lisbon, the Pope criticized the obstinacy of some individuals, describing it as “futile.” He expressed concern that by clinging to outdated beliefs, people might replace true religious traditions with ideologies.

Addressing climate change has also been a central focus of his papacy, from his influential encyclical on the environment in 2015 to recent warnings about the world approaching a critical point due to climate change. He has been a vocal critic of climate change denial and is set to participate in the United Nations’ Climate Summit (COP28) later this month, marking the first time a pope has attended this event since its inception in 1995.

The Vatican has announced that Bishop Joe Vasquez of Austin will temporarily oversee the Diocese of Tyler.