Bishop Joseph Strickland has been one of the few American bishops who has dared to publicly criticize Pope Francis. So the news that he was subject to an apostolic visitation by the Vatican is not entirely surprising, given Pope Francis’s record in retaliating against his perceived critics—right down to ordinary laypeople who attend Traditional Latin Masses.
The visitation is being led by Bishop Gerald Kicanas, emeritus of Tucson, and Bishop Dennis Sullivan of Camden, New Jersey. In stark contrast to Bishop Strickland’s record in demanding transparency regarding Cardinal McCarrick and forcing such transparency regarding sex abusers in his own diocese, Bishop Kicanas has been accused of failing to report sex abuse two priests. And although the reason for the apostolic visitation supposedly relates to Bishop Strickland’s financial management of his diocese, the Diocese of Camden filed for bankruptcy under Sullivan. The bankruptcy filing came six years after Bishop Sullivan used $500,000 in diocesan funds to purchase a mansion for him to live in. In sharp contrast to Camden’s bankrupt status, Bishop Strickland’s Diocese of Tyler was able to raise 99% of its $2.3 million goal for Bishop Strickland’s 2021 appeal six months ahead of schedule. The Diocese of Tyler currently has 21 men in priestly formation in a territory of only 55,000 Catholics—much higher than other U.S. dioceses.
The situation is highly suspicious, to say the least.
