In Very Rare Move, Pope Dismisses Conservative US Bishop Strickland

VATICAN CITY—Pope Francis has dismissed Bishop Joseph E. Strickland of Tyler, Texas, one of his fiercest critics among U.S. Roman Catholic conservatives, a Vatican statement said on Saturday. It is very rare for a bishop to be relieved of his duties outright. Usually, bishops in trouble with the Vatican are asked to resign before submitting a resignation, which the pope accepts. Popes make such moves, considered drastic, when a bishop refuses a request to resign. Bishop Strickland is 65, 10 years shy of the usual retirement age for bishops. Bishop Strickland had said earlier this year that he would refuse to resign if asked....