Leading American conservative critic removed by Pope Francis from Tyler, Texas, diocese

On Saturday, Pope Francis issued an order to remove the conservative bishop of Tyler, Texas, who is well-known for his harsh criticism of the pope on social media and for representing the divisions within the American Catholic hierarchy.

Francis relieved Bishop Joseph Strickland of his pastoral leadership of Tyler, according to a brief statement from the Vatican, and named the Austin bishop as the interim a The 65-year-old Strickland has become a vocal opponent of Francis after charging him with “undermining the deposit of faith” in a tweet earlier this year. He has been especially critical of Francis’ recent meeting on the future of the Catholic Church, when sensitive topics were covered, such as how to more fully accept Catholics who identify as LGBTQ+. administrator.

Amidst accusations that he was making unconventional claims and that priests and laypeople in Tyler had voiced complaints, the Vatican dispatched inspectors earlier this year to probe his management of the diocese.

The results were never made public by the Vatican, and Strickland had maintained in conversations with the media that he would not step down willingly, citing his authority to serve as pope Benedict XVI’s 2012 proclamation granting him the position.

The progressive inclinations of Pope Francis have led traditionalist Catholics to use his attacks on the old liturgy as a rallying cry. Life Site was informed by Strickland that he would not impose the limitations because I can’t starve out part of my flock.

He declared, I feel very much at peace in the Lord and the truth that he died for,” and he stood by his choice to try again.

Some conservatives and traditionalists who had used Strickland as a key Catholic source to oppose Francis’ progressive policies immediately took issue with his dismissal. The editor of The Remnant, a traditionalist newspaper, Michael J. Matt, claimed that Francis was “actively trying to bury fidelity to the Church of Jesus Christ by sacking him.
On X, the former Twitter, Matt posted, This is total war. Francis poses a direct and present threat to the entire world, not just Catholics worldwide.