Pope Francis has relieved Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, a prominent critic among U.S. Roman Catholic conservatives, according to a Vatican statement on Saturday. It’s highly uncommon for a bishop to be outright dismissed, as they typically resign upon Vatican request. Such drastic measures are taken when a bishop refuses to step down, and despite being 10 years away from the usual retirement age, Strickland had earlier declared his refusal to resign if asked.
Strickland, appointed to the diocese by the late Pope Benedict in 2012, expressed his rejection of Pope Francis’ initiatives, criticizing efforts to make the Church more inclusive to the LGBT community and increase lay people’s responsibilities. The dismissal follows a Vatican investigation into the Tyler diocese’s administration earlier this year, including a financial affairs review, with no specified reason provided in statements from the Vatican and the U.S. Bishops Conference.
Known for his staunch conservatism, Strickland, a prolific social media user, has garnered a national following beyond Tyler, Texas. Pope Francis’ move comes amid a lament from the pope last August about what he termed a “reactionary” Catholic Church in the United States, highlighting cases where political ideology replaced faith. Strickland, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, has been defended by conservative U.S. Catholic media outlets aligned with Trump.
In a previous instance where the Vatican defrocked ultra-conservative U.S. anti-abortion priest Frank Pavone for “blasphemous” social media posts, Strickland was one of the few American bishops to publicly defend him. The Vatican has appointed Bishop Joe Vasquez of Austin, Texas, as the interim administrator of the Tyler diocese.
