December 8, 2023 / 11:30 AM
Bishop Emeritus Joseph Strickland has been advised to leave his former Diocese of Tyler, Texas, United States, but has not been told that he cannot celebrate Mass publicly there. This was indicated by Bishop Strickland when National Catholic Register.
“I have received no such instruction,” Bishop Strickland said by text message Thursday night, responding to media reports that he had been prohibited from celebrating Mass in Tyler.
Pope Francis dismissed Bishop Strickland, critic of the Pontiff, as Bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, in East Texas, almost four weeks ago, on November 11. The Pope appointed Bishop Joe Vasquez, Bishop of nearby Austin, temporary administrator of the Diocese of Tyler.