TYLER, Texas — A statement from a Catholic cardinal out of Houston has revealed that a visitation by two bishops in June found the continuation of now-dismissed Diocese of Tyler Bishop Joseph Strickland's leadership to be "not feasible."
Strickland was removed as the bishop of Tyler on Saturday by Pope Francis.
According to a statement from Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Pope Francis in June directed an Apostolic Visitation of the Diocese of Tyler. Bishop Dennis Sullivan of Camden and Bishop Emeritus Gerald Kicanas of Tucson were appointed to conduct the visitation.
Following an extensive inquiry into "all aspects of the governance and leadership of the Diocese of Tyler" by Strickland, a recommendation was made to the pope that Strickland continuing to lead pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler "was not feasible."
The Dicastery for Bishops and Pope Francis gave months of careful considered and came to the decision to ask for Strickland's resignation, which was done on Thursday, Nov. 9.
However, Strickland declined to resign and two days later, Pope Francis removed Strickland from the Office of Bishop of Tyler, according to the statement.
Bishop Joe Vasquez, of Austin, has since been appointed as the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Tyler, DiNardo's statement said.
"Let us keep Bishop Strickland, the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Tyler, and Bishop Vasquez in our prayers," DiNardo said.
According to the Associated Press, Strickland has been critic of Pope Francis, such as accusing him in a tweet of undermining the deposit of faith.” Strickland was also critical of Francis' recent meeting on the future of the Catholic Church when hot-button issues were discussed, including ways to welcome LGBTQ+ Catholics.
In a blog post shared in September, Strickland shared he would not resign as Bishop of Tyler because that would be "abandoning the flock that I was given charge of by Pope Benedict XVI." However, he said he would respect Francis' authority if he removed him from office.