To put it mildly, it can be described as an extraordinary event to remove a Roman Catholic bishop from his position, but Pope Francis is determined to do so. Normally, bishops who are in disagreement with the Vatican are required to voluntarily submit their resignations before the Pope accepts them – and the drastic measures we have seen now usually occur when If the bishop refuses to resign voluntarily. At 65, Strickland was a decade shy of the usual retirement age for bishops.
Strickland had served as bishop of the diocese since 2012 and was known for his active presence on social media platforms. At the beginning of the year, for example, he publicly expressed his disagreement with the Pope’s current plans on Twitter.
The decision to fire Strickland comes after the Vatican launched an investigation into the administration of the Diocese of Tyler earlier this year. According to Catholic media reports, this investigation is extensive – Reviewing financial management within the diocese He is.
Strickland’s removal was announced simultaneously by the Vatican and the U.S. Conference of Bishops, but neither organization explained the specific reason for the decision in their statements. Strickland has not yet commented on his dismissal.
After Strickland’s dismissal, Bishop Joe Vasquez of Austin, Texas, was appointed interim administrator of the diocese, according to a Vatican statement.
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