PeoplePublic figure
Joseph Strickland
United StatesPillars of FaithNo analyses yet
About Joseph Strickland
Joseph Strickland served as bishop of the Diocese of Tyler in East Texas from 2012 until 11 November 2023, when the Holy See announced that Pope Francis had relieved him of the pastoral governance of the diocese (Vatican News). According to a statement by Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, the decision followed a June 2023 apostolic visitation and Strickland's refusal, on 9 November, of a request that he resign (CNA). The Vatican has not published the visitation's findings or a reason for the removal (NBC News). See Bishop Strickland's removal.
Before his removal he was known for public criticism of aspects of Francis's pontificate on social media. In May 2023 he posted that he accepted Francis as pope but rejected what he called the pope's program of undermining the Deposit of Faith (OSV News). On 31 October 2023, at the Rome Life Forum sponsored by LifeSiteNews, he read aloud a letter from an unnamed friend that, according to OSV News, called Francis a usurper of Peter's chair, and he himself accused the pope of backing an attack on the sacred (OSV News).
He has continued to comment publicly since. In July 2024 he criticised the Vatican's handling of the excommunication of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò (InfoVaticana); in September 2024 he responded on X to Francis's remarks in Singapore about religions and God (The Christian Post); and in November 2024 he issued an open letter during the US bishops' assembly accusing fellow bishops of silence (OSV News). A March 2025 letter to priests, distributed at an event at Mar-a-Lago, criticised Francis, The Pillar reported (The Pillar). He commented to Newsweek on the election of Pope Leo XIV (Newsweek), and in October 2025 objected to Leo's appointment of Cardinal Blase Cupich to a Vatican City governing body while stating that he was not speaking in rebellion (Pillars of Faith).
In August 2025 he launched Pillars of Faith, an online apostolate that hosts his podcasts and pastoral letters (Catholics for Catholics). In February 2026 he commented on the Society of St. Pius X's announced episcopal consecrations; the SSPX's news service framed his remarks as a plea for apostolic continuity, and he later wrote that some had misrepresented his views (FSSPX.News; X). In a September 2026 letter republished by OnePeterFive he told supporters he still defends the traditional Roman liturgy and has not changed his positions (OnePeterFive). On 16 September 2026 he wrote on X that the Vatican note A Journey of Hope "must be rejected and repudiated" (X; LifeSiteNews).
In December 2020 Strickland co-signed, with Cardinal Janis Pujats and Bishop Athanasius Schneider among others, a statement arguing that vaccines developed with abortion-derived cell lines "cannot be acceptable for Catholics" (The Remnant); see COVID-19 vaccines.
On the timeline
Full timelineThe 8 most recent of 15 dated events, newest first.
Bishop Strickland urges Catholics to reject Vatican note on interreligious dialogue
On the day the Vatican published A Journey of Hope, its note marking sixty years of Nostra Aetate, Bishop Joseph Strickland wrote on X that the statement "must be rejected and repudiated by all who hold Jesus Christ and His Church as the…
Strickland letter tells supporters he has not changed his positions
In a letter dated 12 September 2026 and republished by OnePeterFive, Strickland told supporters who feared he had changed sides that he continues to defend the traditional Roman liturgy and has not moved from his positions.
Source"I Have Not Moved" - Bishop Strickland on Vatican II & Lefebvre (OnePeterFive)
Strickland issues statement on the SSPX's planned 2026 consecrations
Strickland published a statement on the Society of St. Pius X's announced episcopal consecrations, which the SSPX's news service presented as a plea for apostolic continuity. On 23 February he wrote that some had misrepresented his views…
SourcesBishop Strickland and the Consecrations: A Plea for "Apostolic Continuity" (FSSPX.News (Society of St. Pius X))Post by @BishStrick: follow-up to his 3 February statement on the situation of… (X (Bishop Joseph Strickland @ Pillars of Faith))
Strickland objects to Pope Leo XIV's appointment of Cardinal Cupich
In a message published by Pillars of Faith, Strickland objected to Pope Leo XIV's appointment of Cardinal Blase Cupich to a Vatican City governing body, while stating that he was not speaking in rebellion and remained loyal to the papal…
SourceAn Urgent Message From Bishop Strickland (Pillars of Faith)
Strickland launches the Pillars of Faith apostolate
Former Tyler bishop Joseph Strickland announced Pillars of Faith, an online apostolate that hosts his writings, pastoral letters and podcasts.
SourcesBishop Strickland Launches New Apostolate: Pillars Of Faith (Catholics for Catholics)About Pillars of Faith (Pillars of Faith)
Strickland letter to priests, distributed at Mar-a-Lago, criticises Pope Francis
The Pillar reported that a letter from Strickland addressed to priests and distributed at an event at Mar-a-Lago urged them to take St. Peter Damian as a model and criticised Pope Francis. The Pillar also published an analysis asking…
SourcesStrickland criticizes pope over 'siren call of sodomy' in Mar-a-Lago letter (The Pillar)Did Strickland do a schism? (The Pillar)
Bishop J. Gregory Kelly named fifth bishop of Tyler
Pope Francis appointed Auxiliary Bishop J. Gregory Kelly of Dallas as bishop of Tyler, ending the period of apostolic administration that followed Strickland's removal.
SourcesPope Francis appoints Bishop Gregory Kelly as new bishop of Tyler, Texas (Catholic World Report (CNA))Pope Francis appoints Bishop Gregory Kelly as new bishop of Tyler (Archdiocese of San Antonio)
Strickland issues open letter during US bishops' November assembly
While the US bishops met in Baltimore in November 2024, Strickland issued an open letter criticising Pope Francis and accusing fellow bishops of silence, OSV News reported.
SourcesOusted Texas bishop attacks Pope Francis, accuses U.S. bishops of silence amid… (OSV News (via Catholic Review))False messages (The Evangelist (Diocese of Albany))
Sources for this profile
- Bishop Strickland relieved of pastoral governance of US diocese — Vatican News, Nov 11, 2023
- Bishop Strickland Refused to Resign, Cardinal DiNardo Says — Catholic News Agency (via National Catholic Register), Nov 11, 2023
- In very rare move, pope dismisses conservative U.S. bishop — NBC News, Nov 11, 2023
- Tyler bishop tweets that he 'reject(s)' Pope Francis' 'program of undermining the Deposit of Faith' — OSV News
- Bishop Strickland removed from diocese after accusing pope of backing 'attack on the sacred' — OSV News (via The Monitor, Diocese of Trenton), Nov 13, 2023
- El obispo Strickland critica la excomunión de Viganó — InfoVaticana, Jul 9, 2024
- Pope Francis' claim 'all religions are a path to God' rebuked by clergy — The Christian Post
- Ousted Texas bishop attacks Pope Francis, accuses U.S. bishops of silence amid 'false messages' — OSV News (via Catholic Review)
- Strickland criticizes pope over 'siren call of sodomy' in Mar-a-Lago letter — The Pillar, Mar 28, 2025
- Conservative Ex-Bishop Strickland, Who Francis Removed, Reacts to New Pope — Newsweek
- An Urgent Message From Bishop Strickland — Pillars of Faith, Oct 15, 2025
- Bishop Strickland Launches New Apostolate: Pillars Of Faith — Catholics for Catholics
- Bishop Strickland and the Consecrations: A Plea for "Apostolic Continuity" — FSSPX.News (Society of St. Pius X), Feb 7, 2026
- Post by @BishStrick: follow-up to his 3 February statement on the situation of the SSPX — X (Bishop Joseph Strickland @ Pillars of Faith), Feb 23, 2026
- "I Have Not Moved" - Bishop Strickland on Vatican II & Lefebvre — OnePeterFive
- Bishops Schneider, Strickland on the Morality of Vaccines — The Remnant
- Bishop Joseph Strickland @ Pillars of Faith on X: "This statement from the Vatican must be rejected and repudiated…" — X (@BishStrick), Sep 16, 2026
- Bishop Strickland: Catholics must reject Vatican’s view against proselytism — LifeSiteNews
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