Firebrand Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland, who has been subject to a Vatican investigation over his leadership style and right-wing comments on social media, has recently vowed not to resign or “voluntarily abandon” his diocese, even if Pope Francis asks him to do so. But the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law leaves Strickland little to Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Bishop resignation’
Bishop Strickland says he will not resign if pope asks. What comes next?
Thursday, September 21st, 2023Speculation surrounds possible resignation of Bishop Joseph Strickland
Thursday, September 14th, 2023
Rumours are circulating about the possible resignation of Catholic Bishop Joseph Strickland of the Diocese of Tyler in Texas. There is speculation that Pope Francis may request his departure. The recent developments came to light following a meeting between Pope Francis, Archbishop Robert Prevost – the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops prefect, and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Read more
Vatican accepts resignation of rape-accused Indian bishop
Thursday, June 8th, 2023Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Franco Mulakkal of India’s Jalandhar diocese more than a year after a lower court acquitted him of all charges of raping a nun. “The letter of resignation I have written after prayerful reflection and consultation with my superiors was accepted by our dear Pope Francis today,” Mulakkal Read more
German bishop resigns over handling of sexual abuse cases
Monday, March 27th, 2023
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Franz-Josef Bode(pictured) of Osnabrueck, Germany, who has been under pressure due to his handling of clerical sexual abuse in his diocese. In a personal statement, Bode said that his decision to resign had “matured in me in recent months,” and he hoped that his departure would have Read more
Swiss bishop resigns at age 59 due to ‘inner fatigue’
Thursday, October 13th, 2022Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a 59-year-old Swiss bishop on Monday who said “inner fatigue” had made his office “unbearable” to him. Bishop Valerio Lazzeri was in charge of the Diocese of Lugano in Switzerland since 2013. During a press conference Monday afternoon, he said: “Sincerity and complete transparency compel me to tell you Read more
Francis’ removal of bishop “totally unjust”
Monday, March 14th, 2022
A Catholic bishop in Puerto Rico has described his removal from office by Pope Francis as “totally unjust.” Bishop Daniel Fernández Torres, who has led the Diocese of Arecibo since 2010, said he had been asked to resign because he “had not been obedient to the pope nor had I been in sufficient communion with Read more
Pope Francis accepts resignation of Australian bishop
Monday, August 30th, 2021
The Vatican has accepted the resignation of a long-serving Australian Catholic Bishop, leaving the future of its investigation into his conduct unclear. A statement released overnight by the Holy See read, “The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Broome, Australia, presented by Bishop Christopher Alan Saunders”. Saunders’ Read more
Taiwanese bishop resigns a few months after his appointment
Thursday, June 24th, 2021A few months after his inauguration, Bishop John Lee Juo-wang of Tainan, Taiwan has left the helm of the diocese. Pope Francis, who accepted the resignation of the 54-year-old prelate on Saturday, appointed his predecessor, Mgr Lin Chi-nan Wood, as apostolic administrator. The news took the diocese by surprise. Bishop Lee was ordained and installed Read more