Pope Francis has removed Texan Bishop Joseph Strickland, a critic of the Pope’s reforms, from his duties in the Diocese of Tyler, BBC reports.
Strickland has been a prominent voice against the Pope’s attempts to modernize the Catholic Church’s stance on social issues such as abortion, transgender rights, and same-sex marriage.
Pope Francis has been working to make the Church more progressive, including allowing the baptism of transgender individuals and suggesting openness to blessing same-sex couples.
The Vatican decision follows an investigation into the Diocese of Tyler’s financial affairs and Strickland’s resistance to resign. The Diocese of Tyler will be temporarily administered by Bishop Joe Vasquez of Austin.
