BISHOP JOSEPH STRICKLAND DID not always have a difficult relationship with Pope Francis. When Francis became the head of the Catholic Church, Strickland recalls admiring how welcoming the pope was. But as the pontiff began taking increasingly liberal stances, the bishop of Tyler, Texas, felt he could no longer stay silent.
As Strickland began speaking out about Francis' teachings, from the church's positions towards divorcees and LGBTQ+ people to the question of whether priests should be allowed to marry, he quickly realized that "politically, I was in a rather precarious position."
"There's just a lot of politics in the world and it's a reality that affects the church as well," the bishop told Newsweek in an interview.
In November last year, Strickland was removed from his post by the Vatican. And although he's come to terms with the action against him, he said he worries that it could promote an "atmosphere of fear" within the church.
Strickland's removal was not only an unprecedented measure, but also a sign of how the culture wars have polarized the church of 1.3 billion Catholics, with the battle lines nowhere more evident than in the United States. Under the leadership of Francis, the church has welcomed more people, including same-sex couples and divorced Catholics. The pope has also been outspoken on issues such as climate change, inequality, global capitalism and interfaith dialogue, all of which have meant a departure from the traditional teachings of the church. And while these positions have made Francis a hero among progressives and their allies, it has formed a rift with traditionalists.
The types of actions that Francis has taken against his conservative American critics have not been seen in centuries, said church historian and Villanova University professor Massimo Faggioli.
Denne historien er fra April 19, 2024-utgaven av Newsweek Europe.
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Denne historien er fra April 19, 2024-utgaven av Newsweek Europe.
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Falling for Romance
A new book, Nora Ephron at the Movies, celebrates the writer/director best known for her iconic rom-coms and strong female characters
Cracking the Norse Code
Walrus DNA has shown that Vikings were likely the first to have encountered Indigenous North Americans
Monumental Shift
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Russian Economy Faces 'Burnout'
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China's 'Silent Chemical War'
The U.S. must investigate Beijing's role in the manufacturing of fentanyl that is killing Americans, says one mom whose daughter died after accidentally taking the illicit substance
HARSH HEADWINDS
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BRIDGET EVERETT NEVER THOUGHT SHE'D BE THE LEAD OF A TV SHOW. \"I come from the downtown world in New York, a cabaret singer, and these things just don't happen, you don't find yourself with three seasons of HBO.
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A LATE-NIGHT COMEDY SHOW ON CNN? YES, and it's a game show, too.
