Pope Francis has removed Bishop Joseph Strickland from his position in Texas because the Vatican found issues in how he managed his Diocese of Tyler. Bishop Strickland is known for strongly disagreeing with the Pope’s changes in the Catholic Church, especially on topics like abortion, transgender rights, and same-sex marriage. This decision follows Pope Francis expressing concerns about some leaders in the US Catholic Church being resistant to progress.
In July, he warned that many “basic truths” of Catholic teaching were being challenged, including what he called attempts to “undermine” marriage “as instituted by God” being only between a man and a woman.
Bishop Joseph Strickland criticized people who try to change their God-given biological identity, calling it “disordered.” He warned that those seeking such changes could cause a permanent split in the Church, labeling them as the real troublemakers.
The Vatican investigated Bishop Strickland, and after an examination ordered by the Pope, he has been fired. The inquiry not only focused on his views but also looked into how he managed the finances of the Diocese of Tyler, where he was in charge.
Bishop Strickland, who became a bishop in 2012 under Pope Benedict XVI, refused to resign earlier and even challenged the Pope to dismiss him in a public letter.
Amidst these events, the Pope has been making efforts to modernize the Catholic Church. The Vatican recently announced that transgender individuals can be baptized, with the condition that it doesn’t cause issues. The Pope also hinted at the possibility of blessing same-sex couples.
During a meeting in Lisbon, the Pope criticized those resistant to change, saying their backwardness is pointless and leads to replacing faith with ideologies. He emphasized the importance of addressing climate change, condemning deniers. The Pope will attend the United Nations’ Climate Summit, marking the first time a pope has done so since the event began in 1995.
As a result of Bishop Strickland’s dismissal, Bishop Joe Vasquez of Austin will temporarily oversee the Diocese of Tyler.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67390366