Pope dismisses US bishop Strickland in rare move

One of Pope Francis’s most vociferous opponents among conservative Catholics in the United States, Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, has been dismissed, the Vatican announced on Saturday.

A Roman Catholic bishop is rarely relieved of his duties completely. Bishops who are having problems with the Vatican are typically asked to step down before submitting a resignation that the pope will accept.

When a bishop declines to step down, popes take such extreme measures. At 65, Strickland is ten years younger than the typical bishop retirement age.

Before the pope’s “programme undermining the Deposit of Faith” was announced earlier this year, Strickland—a frequent user of social media who has served as the diocese’s bishop since 2012—tweeted.

The dismissal came after a Vatican investigation into the Tyler diocese’s management earlier this year, which included, according to Catholic media reports, an examination of his financial management.

The U.S. Bishops Conference and the Vatican both announced the dismissal at the same time. Both statements lacked a justification. From Strickland, there was no immediate response.

According to the statement, Francis appointed Joe Vasquez, the bishop of Austin, Texas, as the diocese’s acting administrator.

(With agency inputs)