Pope Francis has fired Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, one of his fiercest critics among conservative North American Catholics, the Vatican said Saturday, as cited by Reuters.
The removal of a Roman Catholic bishop from office is very rare. Typically, bishops who have problems with the Vatican are asked to resign before submitting their resignation, which the Pope accepts.
Popes take these measures, which are considered radical, when the bishop refuses their resignation. Strickland is 65, 10 years younger than the normal retirement age for bishops.
Strickland, an active social media user who has been bishop of the diocese since 2012, tweeted earlier this year that he rejected the Pope’s “agenda that undermines the Deposit of Faith.”
The dismissal followed a Vatican investigation earlier this year into the administration of the Tyler diocese, which included a review of financial management, according to Catholic media.
The resignation was announced simultaneously by the Vatican and the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. None of the statements provided substantiation. There was no immediate response from Strickland.
Francis named Austin Bishop Joe Vasquez as interim administrator of the diocese, according to the statement.
Author: morning Post
Source: CM Jornal
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