Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 40 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
A Sad Day in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas
I woke up this morning to this email link from LifeSiteNews.
Pope Francis has removed our good and faithful bishop, Joseph Strickland. This is devastating news to me and to all of us in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas. Bishop Strickland is one of the few bishops in the USA who actually practice what they preach. I’m so angry right now I don’t know what to say.
From the email link:
Bishop Joseph Strickland is being cruelly removed from his diocese by Pope Francis, despite being America’s most faithful shepherd.
This merciless attack on Catholic orthodoxy by Pope Francis demands a prayerful response today, so please sign our petition pledging to pray for Bishop Strickland as Pope Francis removes him from the Diocese of Tyler, Texas. We will be presenting Bishop Strickland with your prayer pledges, so sign up now!
The most stunning thing is that Bp. Strickland’s Diocese of Tyler has one of the highest vocations per capita in the United States.
Bp. Strickland has led the diocese for over ten years and been lauded by faithful Catholics for his promotion of love for Christ in the Eucharist and traditional Catholic teachings. But he is now being cancelled for, among other things, defending the Catholic Church against error.
The Vatican has had Bp. Strickland in their crosshairs for sometime, not least because, like St. Paul corrected St. Peter, Strickland publicly corrected several heterodox statements from Pope Francis.
Known as ”America’s bishop”, he has been outspoken in defending life and family, and has insisted that Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament be respected, which led him to refuse to give pro-abortion politicians Holy Communion.
Bp. Strickland has been fearless in his fight for fidelity to the teachings of the Catholic Church. In a recent episode of The Bishop Strickland Show, presented by LifeSiteNews, Bishop Strickland states that he is willing to suffer martyrdom, red or white, for defending the truths of the Catholic faith.
His unwavering dedication to promoting Jesus Christ and His Truth has had a profound impact on the lives of countless individuals.
We stand with Bishop Joseph Strickland, his love for Christ in the Eucharist, his devotion to Our Lady and the selfless work he has undertaken to foster greater fidelity among the clergy and even the Pope.
Please share this petition TODAY with your friends and family. We must pray for Bishop Strickland in this most painful trial.
I encourage all the Catholics on Ricochet and others of goodwill to sign the petition at the link and let Pope Francis know he has made a terrible mistake. Thank you and please pray for Bishop Strickland.
LifePetitions – Petitions for a Culture of Life https://t.co/Ma9oWDnCGK
— Scott Wilmot (@scwilmot315) November 11, 2023
Rejoice always that…no matter what the day brings Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life, yesterday, today and forever. May the saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary always inspire us to return to Christ no matter how we may wander into darkness. Jesus is Light from Light. pic.twitter.com/BInqtESYaH
— Bishop J. Strickland (@BishStrickland) November 11, 2023
.
Published in Religion and Philosophy
I get a daily email from CatholicVote and this was one of the stories they linked to this morning:
THE VATICAN DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES
Boy, does that hit home to me even more now.
My mom had a saying that she learned at some point growing up…To pray is good, to work is better, to suffer is perfection. I was at a parish Bible study once when I mentioned that and while I expected that the other participants in the class might not get it, I was flabbergasted that the priest leading the discussion was horrified.
Who is next? The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.
Did the Pope have a stated reason for this action?
Oh.
So, asking if the Pope is Catholic is no longer a punchline. It is now an honest inquiry.
I’m praying for my Catholic brothers and sisters. I’ll leave whether or not that includes the Pope up to God.
Thanks @percival
A sad day for Catholics everywhere.
Sad but true . . .
Been that way for a few years.
I think it is simply no longer Christian. It won’t care when the Diocese starts losing worshipers.
Everyone should stay home, even if the replacement is a good guy. Let him report back to the pope that the flock defies his action.
Bishop Strickland responds. Lord bless him and keep him.
Thanks @sisyphus
How big is the front door on that church? How many square theses?
The problem with leftists is that they can’t live and let live. It just seems impossible for them to allow for another outlook on life and, of course, politics. Pope Francis is a leftist. It seems, from a very expedited search, that the Catholic Church is growing in third world areas and shrinking in the Western world. I am not certain of this, but it would make sense. Maybe I am off base. I am not Catholic. Most of you probably know that. But it is a shame that this priest, who is beloved by his congregation/flock, is removed because he won’t obey the dictator. I don’t want to be disrespectful to the Pope. But he does appear to way in on secular issues quite a bit. But I could be wrong again.
That is not an option. To deliberately miss mass is a mortal sin.
Don’t have a clue what this means. If this is snark or Church bashing keep it to yourself.
I wonder when there will start home churches same as China in reaction and defense of souls? Chinese have faced this problem for decades when only priests approved by the CCP are allowed. The Church has had schism and split before – this action is crushing I think, not just for Catholics. We look forward to our visits to Charleston in some part because we really look forward to worshiping at St. Michael’s Anglican church. I’ve asked myself more than once if a community and place to worship is enough of a reason to move somewhere. I imagine the awareness of betrayal is immense.
Clearly, the only intellectually honest understanding of this situation includes the deep theological…oh, wait, that’s right, I
amwas a Methodist. Never mind.Easy now. You’re only supposed to admire the problem, not do anything about it. I’m surprised that even mentioning it isn’t haram.
For those keeping score at home, this was snark. Not the other comments.
Might be wrong on this but I believe theologically the Church has only ever had one pope at a time – but historically it has sometimes had more.
Again, I have trouble understanding what you are saying. If you’ve got something to contribute, please say it clearly, not in indecipherable language.
Another take on the situation.
General Flynn weighs in:
I’ve never heard of that man, but he sure seems like a blowhard to me. I got to the point in the video where he linked Bishop Strickland with men like Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Eric Simmons, Matt Gaspers, etc., as if this was a bad thing. He had lots and lots of innuendo and 1 anonymous letter and 1 signed letter from priests in the diocese. I’m not buying it. I’ve lived in the diocese for 6 years and have given thanks throughout this time that we have a bishop who is actually Catholic. To think that Strickland is removed and men like Cupich, McElroy, Gregory, Tobin, etc., remain is mind boggling.
Oh, he’s part of the Where Peter Is crowd. No thanks, not buying the garbage he is selling.
The responses by whomever posted the video to comments and questions were just dismissive and off-putting, to put it nicely. People were asking good questions, making reasonable points, and they guy was just a jerk. I did not watch the video — the point seemed pretty clear from the discussion below it, and the high-handed treatment of people who bothered to A) watch and B) respond was most informative.
He’s a Doctoral Student in Theology and has many videos debunking some of the false charges being made against Pope Francis. Sometimes he might go too far in his defense, but he’s one of the few people providing a contrasting view to the neverending stream of negative coverage. I’d recommend at least looking at some of his other stuff before writing him off.
Good for General Flynn. One hopes some bishops will weigh in with their support. But I won’t hold my breath.
Nah, I’ll pass – I know all about Where Peter Is and what they push. I could not care less that he is a doctoral student. Not buying it.