Vatican Removes Bishop Strickland from Pastoral Governance of Diocese of Tyler, Texas

The Vatican has officially announced Pope Francis’s decision to remove Bishop Joseph E. Strickland from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas. This decision follows an apostolic visitation ordered by the Pope and conducted by two US bishops, Bishop Dennis Sullivan of Camden and Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas of Tucson.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Joe Vásquez of Austin as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tyler, rendering it sede vacante, indicating that it is without a bishop.

The apostolic visitation, initiated last June, aimed to thoroughly assess the governance and leadership of the Diocese of Tyler under Bishop Strickland. Cardinal Daniel Nicholas DiNardo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, released a statement shedding light on the extensive inquiry conducted by Bishop Sullivan and Bishop Kicanas.

According to Cardinal DiNardo, the prelates conducted an exhaustive examination of all aspects of Bishop Joseph Strickland’s leadership. As a result of the visitation, a recommendation was made to the Holy Father that the continuation of Bishop Strickland in office was deemed not feasible.

After months of careful consideration by the Dicastery for Bishops and Pope Francis himself, the decision was reached to request the resignation of Bishop Strickland. However, Bishop Strickland, presented with the request on November 9, 2023, declined to resign from office. Consequently, Pope Francis decided to remove him from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler.

Cardinal DiNardo emphasized the need for prayers for Bishop Strickland, the clergy, and the faithful of the Diocese of Tyler. Additionally, he announced that, pending more permanent arrangements for the diocese, Bishop Joe Vásquez has been appointed as the Apostolic Administrator.

This unexpected development has sent shockwaves through the Catholic community, and further details are awaited as the Diocese of Tyler undergoes this transition in leadership.

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