Explanations Are In Order … Pope Francis … What Are You Doing?

Bishop Strickland

By Joseph Matt, Publisher, The Wanderer

In what seems to be a pattern emanating from the Eternal City, another outspoken orthodox prelate has been removed without explanation. A shepherd who has been forthright in proclaiming and defending Church teaching on marriage, life, and sexuality, and condemning all of the evils that are infecting our society and churches today.

Bishop Strickland has been removed as bishop of Tyler personally by Pope Francis without explanation. The bishop deserves an explanation and so do the Catholic faithful. Not only is this an injustice to the good and holy bishop, but the immediate impact of this is scandalous and harmful to the Church.

What is the message here, Pope Francis? Because the immediate inference — due to the lack of explanation — causes this to be seen as an unjust action which triggers some obvious assumptions:

Does it not seem that prelates who preach the authentic teachings of Christ boldly and without shame especially in the public square are persona non grata in the Catholic Church?

Is there not some sort of double standard here? The world recently witnessed the case of Fr. Marko Rupnik, the former Jesuit priest who is accused of serious abuses against women, but was accepted for priestly ministry in a diocese in Slovenia.

One need only witness the fiasco of the so-called Synod on “Synodality” to be left with the perception that Pope Francis is trying to change Church teaching.

This “sacking” of Bishop Strickland without explanation is only a fraction of the endless scandals that continue coming from this papacy. This of course is a papacy that promised the faithful full clarity and transparency at its inception.

Souls will continue to be lost due to the confusion and the continued obfuscation emanating from Rome.

Let us hope that this is a watershed moment in the papacy of Pope Francis, if for no other reason than this event wakes up enough clerics to confront the Pope and address the great harm that is being caused by this papacy. Yes, Francis is the Pope — but that does not mean he is unaccountable for his actions — especially those that cause scandal.

A Good And Faithful Prelate

In my experience, hearing the name of Bishop Strickland, I will always think of the title “guardian of the Doctrine of the Faith.” Is there a more honorable role for a Catholic bishop? The bishop has referred to that responsibility many times in his “job description” as Bishop of Tyler — an oath every bishop takes when he is appointed a shepherd of the flock — and an oath every bishop should take very seriously.

By all accounts Bishop Strickland did just that! — always quick and courageous to defend and promote the Catholic Faith especially in the public square. His witness to the Catholic faith at the “LGBTQ2+” event at Dodgers stadium will always be a testament to his faith and courage. This is just one of countless examples of Bishop Strickland being the sole voice in the wilderness proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And, of course, the silence of his peers was deafening.

Justly or unjustly stripped of his Diocese of Tyler, I think it is safe to say we have not heard the last from Bishop Strickland. He has always proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the need for us to turn to Jesus, in these difficult times. Let’s pray for the good bishop that he will continue to proclaim the message of Christ wherever his journey takes him. Let’s also pray that we take his message seriously also. Godspeed Bishop Strickland!

Pray for the Pope, Pray for Bishop Strickland, Pray for the Church!