Bishop Joseph Strickland, who was recently removed by the Vatican from his position in the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, urged Catholics in an appearance on Newsmax to resist the Pope’s changes to the church’s ancient teachings while remaining faithful to the “bride of Christ.”
"Please, please don't abandon the bride of Christ, that is the Catholic Church,” Strickland said Tuesday on Newsmax's "The Chris Salcedo Show." “
He added: “Stay with her, grow more holy, grow closer to the sacred heart of Christ. But please, please don't abandon her to the foul sinfulness that is overtaking the world and, sadly, the church as well. Please stay with her."
Strickland, a strong advocate of traditional Catholic teachings, was removed from his duties in the diocese of Tyler, Texas, by Pope Francis Saturday after the Vatican's Dicastery for Bishops concluded its formal investigation into the diocese earlier this year.
In a statement, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, said, "As a result of the visitation, the recommendation was made to the Holy Father that the continuation in office of Bishop Strickland was not feasible."
Stickland told Salcedo the Papal Nuncio offered “quite a list” of reasons leading to his removal, but key was that he “failed to be supportive of the Synod on Synodality.”
Francis called a special synod this year and next to review the church’s teaching on controversial matters, including its work with LBGTQ+ community.
The bishop's firing sparked immediate outrage among church conservatives and traditionalists.
Francis, a member of the Society of Jesus – or Jesuits, known within the church for liberal stances such as “liberation theology” – has been pushing left-wing changes in church teachings.
The Pope recently indicated he backed church blessings of same sex civil unions – a move that puts him at odds with original Christian teachings that forbid any sexual relations outside of marriage.
Last week the Vatican announced it was backing allowing transgender individuals to be baptized and to serve as god parents. Church teachings have long-held that rejecting one’s God-given designation as male or female is sinful.
Francis has been hailed by far-left liberals for such pronouncements, including ones on homosexuality, ordination of women as priests, climate change, the bestowing of the sacraments of penance and Eucharist to divorced Catholics, among other issues.
Strickland said five years ago he asked his fellow American bishops if they truly believed in the teachings of the church, as the Rev. James Martin, a liberal Jesuit, had been challenging core teachings.
“In the five years since, it appears, sadly, the answer is no,” Strickland told Salcedo.
While opening the doors to civil unions, Francis has moved to severely restrict the use of the traditional Latin or Tridentine Mass.
More recently, cardinals from five different countries, submitted a “dubia” – or letter — to Francis prior to a "Synod on Synodality" in October at the Vatican seeking clarification on some of his more controversial comments and making clear they conflicted with church teaching.
Salcedo asked if Strickland thought the church had been infiltrated by leftists to undermine the faith.
“It certainly appears so,” Strickland said.
Strickland said that the Catholic Church needs a "revival of faith" and he believes that "it will come from the laity.”
“We need to answer to this toxic nightmare, and say no, because the bride of Christ is being fouled by blessing sin,” he said.
He noted a pathway for Catholic faithful during these times.
"If you're concerned and confused and saddened, then seek to grow in holiness, pray the rosary," he said
"Pray before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament – Eucharistic adoration – go to Mass and really reverently listen to those readings. It's a living word of God."
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Nicole Wells ✉
Nicole Wells, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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