Bishops Strickland, Schneider and Viganò: a few essential points

[Michie]

On 11 November 2023, the Holy See announced that Pope Francis had removed Bishop Joseph E Strickland from the pastoral governance of the diocese of Tyler in the United States, and appointed the bishop of Austin, Joe Vásquez, as apostolic administrator of the now-vacant diocese. The main reason for the removal is thought to be a lack of communion with the other bishops of the United States. Now, if the attitude of Bishop Strickland appeared “divisive” to the Holy See, it is because the bishop of Tyler has the great merit of not having remained silent on the profound crisis of the Church. He was not a “dumb dog not able to bark” (Is 56:11), like those unfaithful shepherds of whom Sacred Scripture speaks.

A few days before his removal, Bishop Strickland had received a request to resign on his own initiative, as has become standard practice. The American bishop, considering the causes of his removal to be unjust, refused to resign. He was within his right and did well to exercise it. The same had been done by the venerable József Mindszenty (1892–1975), relieved of his duties as primate of Hungary in 1973 for refusing to support the Ostpolitik of Paul VI.

Continued below.

Bishops Strickland, Schneider and Viganò: a few essential points - Voice of the Family

Image source: Messainlatino.it/ Corrispondenza Romana On 11 November 2023, the Holy See announced that Pope Francis had removed Bishop Joseph E Strickland

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