This is according to a Vatican-approved order that comes almost one year after Pope Francis removed Bishop Joseph Strickland, one of his most outspoken critics, as head of the diocese.

Bishop Joe S Vásquez of Austin, who has served as apostolic administrator of the Tyler Diocese in East Texas since Strickland's dramatic ouster last November, announced the move in a letter to parishioners of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Tyler, which has offered a 2 pm Sunday Mass in Latin.

A spokesperson for the diocese also confirmed with CNA that Masses celebrated according to the pre-Vatican II liturgical form will also be halted in four other parishes: Mary Queen of Heaven in Malakoff, Sacred Heart in Texarkana, St. Francis of Assisi in Gilmer, and Sacred Heart in Nacogdoches.

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His action on Saturday follows an Apostolic Visitation of the Diocese and Strickland's refusal to resign when the Pope offered him the chance to do so gracefully.

The Vatican initiated an Apostolic Visitation of the Diocese, led by two bishops, to thoroughly investigate Strickland's governance and leadership.

Their report concluded that Strickland's continuing role was untenable, leading to a recommendation for his resignation.

Despite being presented with this option on November 9, Strickland refused, resulting in his removal by Pope Francis on November 11.

This decision is seen as a significant and rare step by the Vatican, especially given that Strickland, at 65, is still ten years away from the usual retirement age for bishops.

The Vatican's announcement did not provide specific reasons for his dismissal.

Using social media to attack Pope Francis

Known for his active social media presence, Strickland has more than 120,000 followers on Twitter, surpassing the number of Catholics in his diocese.

His recent posts have been contentious, almost goading Pope Francis to act. The Tweets include:

• calling Francis' Synodality initiative "garbage"
• inviting Francis to fire him
• endorsing a controversial video that claimed you cannot be a Catholic and be a Democrat
• questioning the safety of the Covid-19 vaccines
• endorsing a video that called Francis a "diabolically disoriented clown" and
• accusing the pope of "undermining the Deposit of Faith

In a tweet from May 13, Strickland stated "I believe Pope Francis is the Pope, but it is time for me to say that I reject his programme of undermining the Deposit of Faith. Follow Jesus."

This outspoken stance has been described by Massimo Faggioli as "the strangest behaviour by a bishop" in the social media era. Faggioli is a respected theologian and church historian at Villanova University.

Strickland responds to removal

The Tyler Diocesan office was not available for comment over the weekend.

However, the conservative website LifeSiteNews reported an interview with the former diocesan bishop on Saturday.

According to the website, Strickland believes his dismissal was due partly to his refusal to enforce Francis' 2021 restrictions on the old Latin Mass.

"I can't starve out part of my flock" he remarked, expressing his peace "in the Lord and the truth that He died for."

In an email to The Wall Street Journal, Strickland wrote that he is saddened for the harm to the faithful but at peace in His Truth.

Asked about his plans, he replied, "Just praying for now."

Bishop Strickland greets children on first day of school

Catholic community responds

Strickland's removal has provoked anger among some conservative Catholics.

Francis is "actively trying to bury fidelity to the Church of Jesus Christ" says Michael J. Matt, editor of the traditionalist newspaper The Remnant

Matt is labelling the situation as "total war".

Also disappointed is former Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Head, Cardinal Gerhard Müller.

In Rorate Caeli, Müller calls Strickland's sacking "an abuse of the divine right of the episcopate".

The former Vatican authority figure, says dioceses are established by Christ himself, and the Pope has no authority from Christ to intimidate and bully good bishops.

Müller says that a bishop can be removed only if he has done something evil, such as blessing people of the opposite sex or people in extramarital relationships.

Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin has been appointed as the apostolic administrator for the Diocese of Tyler until a new bishop is named.

Sources

• Reuters
• AP
• Catholic Culture
• X - Josh McElwee
• NCR
• RNS
• CNA
• Rorate Caeli

In an address the day before he was elevated to the College of Cardinals, Pierre says it is difficult for Catholics to claim allegiance to the pope while openly criticising the incumbent.

Pierre's reminder always to listen to the Pope comes against the background of the Church in the US, which is said to be divided, and some of the country's bishops are openly criticising Pope Francis.

While Pierre did not mention names, it is said his comments alluded to the controversial case of Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, who has accused Pope Francis of undermining the Deposit of Faith.

"The pope is not an idea.

"Some people say, 'I am with the pope, but not with this one.' And they are mistaken. The pope is a real person" declared Cardinal Pierre, Pope Francis' ambassador to the United States.

He emphasised that when the Lord chose Peter, He chose an individual, not an abstract concept, to build His church upon.

Pope understands the US church "very well"

Pierre, originally from France, has been a seasoned Vatican diplomat and was appointed as the apostolic nuncio to the United States by Pope Francis in 2016. His mission has largely focused on encouraging the US hierarchy to embrace Pope Francis' reforms and revitalise the Synod of Bishops.

Critics have claimed Pope Francis doesn't fully understand the Catholic Church in the United States due to his Latin American background. However, Pierre countered, stating "My experience is that Pope Francis understands very well the US church.

"It's good that we have a pope that makes provocations, because this is a real pope," he added.

Despite occasional tensions between Pope Francis and the US episcopacy, Cardinal Pierre urged a spirit of dialogue and unity, emphasising that "the pope is the pope, and bishops should always listen to the pope."

Pierre advised those who struggle to embrace the pope's priorities, saying "If the pope says something, don't criticise him. Make an examination of conscience."

21 new Cardinals

On Saturday, Francis elevated 21 new prelates from 15 countries.

In adding them to the College of Cardinals Francis said they should resemble a symphony orchestra: diverse and with a wide range of contributions, but always working toward harmony.

"A symphony thrives on the skilful composition of the timbres of different instruments: each one makes its contribution, sometimes alone, sometimes united with someone else, sometimes with the whole ensemble," said Francis at the ceremony.

"Diversity is necessary; it is indispensable. However, each sound must contribute to the common design."

Sources

National Catholic Reporter

National Catholic Reporter

CathNews New Zealand

But the Catholic Church's Code of Canon Law leaves Strickland little to no room to resist if the pontiff demands his resignation, several prominent canon lawyers told NCR.

Canon law makes it clear that the pope has "supreme, full, immediate, and universal ordinary power" in the Catholic Church and that any final decree he issues is binding and cannot be appealed.

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Strickland boldly states "Those advocating for changes in matters that are unalterable are, in fact, trying to seize control of Christ's church, rendering them the true schismatics."

In the missive, harking back to anti-modernist sentiments of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Strickland suggests there will be a profound examination of core Catholic doctrines during the Synod.

Bishop Strickland, previously known for his allegations of Pope Francis' eroding the Deposit of Faith, penned his fervent letter on August 22. He cautioned against the pervasive influence of what he termed an "evil and false message" that has "penetrated" the church's sanctity.

In his letter, Strickland urges readers to exercise discernment in the face of any "attempts to present an alternative to the Gospel of Jesus Christ." He firmly asserts that those who resist such alterations are not disloyal to the Church but rather safeguarding its integrity.

Vatican visitation

Having been designated as the fourth bishop of the Tyler Diocese by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, Bishop Strickland has emerged recently as a vocal agitator, unafraid to openly challenge the current pope's leadership and criticise fellow bishops.

Strickland's management of the East Texas diocese has also come under scrutiny, prompting a Vatican-initiated inquiry known formally as an apostolic visitation.

Bishop Strickland's public stance, including his social media posts casting doubts on Pope Francis' commitment to Catholic tenets and his endorsement of critical videos characterising the pontiff as a "diabolically disoriented clown," has elicited both support and opposition.

One of the key points of contention has been Strickland's scepticism about synodality, the three-year process aimed at gathering insights from Catholics worldwide. This will culminate in meetings in 2023 and 2024 in Rome, where bishops and voting delegates including lay individuals will convene.

Sources

National Catholic Reporter

CathNews New Zealand

The apostolic visitation, which he described as "not fun," was conducted by delegates from the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops, focusing on various aspects of the diocese's management and the bishop's social media usage.

Strickland (pictured) made the comments on the latest episode of his podcast, "Bishop Strickland Hour." Strickland addressed concerns surrounding the inquiry during the prerecorded show on July 25 via Virgin Most Powerful Internet Radio.

He compared the experience to being called to the principal's office and acknowledged that some may interpret the visitation as a sign of significant issues within the diocese.

"There have been some administrative issues, and I'm sure people are concerned," the bishop said. "I'm sure there are people saying that there must be something really bad, and something's really gone wrong for this apostolic visitation [to happen]."

"I've got nothing to hide," he said in a show excerpt posted to YouTube.

Apostolic visitations are formal investigations initiated by the Pope to examine and maintain sound doctrine and morals, and address possible abuses in institutions under the Church's authority.

In this instance, the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops supervised the investigation, signalling potential disciplinary actions against Bishop Strickland

A polarising figure

The visitation reportedly involved interviews with diocesan clergy and laity, culminating in a meeting with Bishop Strickland. Among the topics explored were the bishop's social media activities and matters related to diocesan administration and management.

Bishop Strickland has garnered both popularity and controversy for his outspokenness and staunch defence of pro-life principles, traditional liturgy and Catholic orthodoxy.

With over 136,000 followers on Twitter, his social media presence has been a point of scrutiny, leading to criticism of some of his posts, particularly one in which he implied Pope Francis was undermining the deposit of faith.

In an interview in October 2020, Strickland described the church under Francis' leadership as "weak" and "not clear".

On Twitter, the bishop endorsed videos labelling the current pontiff as a "diabolically disordered clown." Strickland even dared the pope to remove him from his position.

Bishop Strickland said he thinks he was subject to the visitation "because I've been bold enough and loved the Lord enough and his Church, simply preaching the truth."

Under Bishop Strickland's leadership, the Diocese of Tyler has shown positive signs of spiritual and administrative well-being.

Despite its modest size with only 55,000 Catholics, the diocese boasts 21 men currently undergoing priestly formation, a higher rate of seminarians-per-Catholic than most other US dioceses. The diocese is also reportedly performing well financially.

However, some Twitter users commented "Bishop Strickland's on the way out." The bishop responded: "Maybe they're right."

Sources

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

Among the comments, Strickland accused Pope Francis of undermining the Catholic faith.

This investigation, known as an apostolic visitation, was confirmed by Elizabeth Slaten, the Diocese of Tyler, Texas communications director.

Slaten revealed that the visitation took place over several days the previous week.

Still, she refrained from disclosing further details regarding the purpose of the visitation or the individuals responsible for conducting it.

"I'm not free to speak on behalf of Mother Church and the nuncio," Slaten commented.

The Apostolic Nunciature in Washington DC, the Vatican's embassy in the United States, has not responded to inquiries regarding the investigation.

Francis a "diabolically disordered clown"

In an interview in October 2020, Strickland described the church under Francis' leadership as "weak" and "not clear".

Strickland even dared the pope to remove him from his position.

On Twitter, the bishop endorsed videos labelling the current pontiff as a "diabolically disordered clown."

With a Twitter following of nearly 124,000, Strickland has utilised his social media platform to disseminate anti-vaccine messages during the COVID-19 pandemic and to undermine other bishops by expressing support for priests disciplined by their respective dioceses.

Additionally, Strickland has taken firm partisan political positions, labelling President Joseph Biden - an abortion rights-supporting Catholic - as an "evil president".

In 2020, Strickland endorsed a contentious video by reactionary priest Fr James Altman, which asserted that Catholics could not vote for Democrats in political elections.

Strickland participated in a rally organised by former President Donald Trump supporters, who sought to overturn Biden's election victory.

Private resolution fails

In 2021, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Vatican's representative in the United States, personally rebuked Strickland regarding his Twitter activity.

However, attempts to address the issue through private conversations were unsuccessful. Instead, the bishop's remarks have become more provocative.

The investigation launched by the Vatican reflects growing concerns regarding Strickland's controversial remarks and actions.

Strickland, appointed as the fourth bishop of the Tyler diocese by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, has garnered attention in recent years for his outspoken and confrontational approach, publicly challenging Pope Francis' leadership and criticising his fellow bishops.

Strickland's scepticism regarding Pope Francis' fidelity to the Catholic faith was evident in a tweet on May 12, where he affirmed his belief in Pope Francis' papacy but expressed his rejection of the pontiff's alleged undermining of the Deposit of Faith.

As the apostolic visitation progresses, its findings may have significant implications for the diocese and the bishop's future role.

Sources

National Catholic Reporter

Religion News Service

CathNews New Zealand

Bishop Joseph Strickland (pictured) of Tyler, Texas, is a vocal critic of the current pontiff.

He gained notoriety for his contentious relationship with Francis, even inviting the pope to dismiss him in the past.

However, while acknowledging the validity of Francis' election, Strickland urged, "Follow Jesus."

The bishop's comments sparked a strong reaction on Twitter, with priests, deacons, and Catholic intellectuals accusing him of flirting with schism and violating his vow of obedience to the pope.

Deacon William T Ditewig, former director of the US bishops' Secretariat for the Diaconate, called on Strickland to resign if he believed his conscience led him away from the pope.

The following day, Strickland appeared to backtrack slightly, expressing his belief in the significance of unity and condemning schismatic movements and sedevacantists who deny the pope's legitimacy.

However, he later retracted his statement labelling the Society of St Pius X (SSPX) as "schismatic", instead stating that the SSPX upholds Tradition for the Universal Church.

Strickland also appeared to distance himself from the far-right podcaster Patrick Coffin.

The bishop participated as a guest speaker for an online "summit" hosted by Coffin's organisation, "Hope is Fuel," on March 18.

Still, on May 15, the website no longer named Strickland among the featured speakers.

It still mentioned that "a respected Catholic bishop" had participated in the event alongside "six mental health experts" and a former professional athlete.

In recent years, Coffin has veered to the hard right and accused Francis of being an "anti-pope." He has also argued that Pope Benedict XVI's February 2013 resignation was invalid.

"Strickland appears to have finally crossed the line"

When Benedict died, Coffin tweeted that the See of Rome was "now vacant."

He prayed that the cardinals who elected Francis in the March 2013 conclave would "do the right thing and avoid yet another anti-pope."

Fr Robert Spitzer, a respected Jesuit theologian, who was the guest on a May 2 episode of Coffin's show, distanced himself from Coffin. He stated that he does not share Coffin's views on the legitimacy of Francis' election.

Spitzer said he had just learned of Coffin's statements questioning the validity of Francis' election.

"I do not hold this position and would never hold this position," said Spitzer, who added that he had asked that his interview with Coffin "be withdrawn from the series."

On May 12, Strickland quote-tweeted Spitzer's statement, adding that he "fully" endorsed Spitzer's stance "regarding any statements from Patrick Coffin regarding Pope Francis."

But then he added in a separate tweet: "Please allow me to clarify regarding ‘Patrick Coffin has challenged the authenticity of the (sic) Pope Francis.' If this is accurate I disagree, I believe Pope Francis is the Pope but it is time for me to say that I reject his programme of undermining the Deposit of Faith. Follow Jesus."

"With this tweet, Bishop Strickland appears to have finally crossed the line into direct and explicit opposition to Pope Francis and his teaching authority," wrote Mike Lewis in a post published on the pro-Francis website, Where Peter Is.

Sources

National Catholic Reporter

America Magazine