I watched a really great, well balanced, thoughtful video on the Visitation on Bishop Strickland last night. It is well worth watching.
Whilst the stated object of the Visitation from Rome is to investigate the Finances and Governance of his Diocese there are probably a number of other factors that have led to his coming Ecclesial Execution. But the biggie I think was the following tweet the Bishop recently made: So Bishop Strickland said outright and in public that Pope Francis is, 'Undermining the Deposit of Faith. ' Any Pope would give him the boot for saying this about them. Pope St John Paul 2 certainly would have, he was a strict disciplinarian. However in this case there are, I think two main things that set this apart. Rome is not saying this is the reason they are doing him in . The given reason is finances and Governance. But it seems that Bishops Strickland's Diocese is in really great shape, a real credit to both him and the people who live there. So its a false flag and this is dishonest. If they are booting him for his stance on Pope Francisthey should have come clean and said so. The second big difference is that Bishop Strickland was and is right. Pope Francis is undermining the deposit of the Faith. If this were not true Pope Francis would have been right to dump Bishop Strickland. But since it is the simple truth it is a very evil act to dump him. Effectively they are crucifying the poor man for telling the simple truth.
This is all true. But there is more. Getting rid of Bishop Strictland under the pretence of false flag (finances) is one thing; but if they were to do it for the real reason ie., Francis' undermining the deposit of the faith... then this would draw attention to what is really going on. And highlight it. They want to avoid that at all costs. They work in the shadows, undermining. Undoing. Scheming. The last thing they want is a pesky holy bishop with a flashlight.
They are very political, they think in a very human, secular way about things. It was the same kind of thinking that prevented the Consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary as our Lady of Fatima requested. This was because they were afraid such a thing would offend Russia. One top Vatican Official reportedly said they would not be told what to do by a bunch of illiterate Portugese peasant children. It was the same thing with Padre Pio. People in the Vatican were afraid of being made to look ridiculous by what they regarded as a half educated peasant priest from the mountains in the middle of nowhere. It is human thinking. Not the mind of God. On the surface it appears very wise , but as St Paul reminds us the Wisdom of men is foolishness in God's eyes. 1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness"; It's the same thing with Bishop Strickland. They regard what he says as foolish because it offends the political establishment and elites. Both secular and religious. But pretty well all the prophets and saints by their very nature offend the rich and powerful; its just what they do. As Our Lady says in the Magnificat: He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, Just as they would not like the Fatima children from coming from mountains in Portugal or Padre Pio from a forlorn mountain in Italy, they would not be too keen on Bishop Strickland coming from what they would regard as a red neck, backwoods, desert like Texas. Just as they said of Jesus, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?'. 'Philip findeth Nathaniel, and saith unto him, We have found Him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathaniel said unto him, Could any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. I can't help noticing the the bad Cardinals and Bishops tend to be based in the cities and the good ones in the country in the middle of nowhere. It was the same thing in Christ's time with Jerusalem.
These pictures speak volumes. Religious authorities with secular world views will always persecute and condemn Christ. In His Own Sacred Presence in Jerusalem and now through His true disciples in His Church. Caiphas returns in every generation. This is a very serious warning to other good bishops to keep their mouths shut. Or else. St John Fisher and St Thomas Moore pray for Bishop Strickland and all true shepherds.
I think Twitter is a forum that encourages one to react impulsively. I think the good bishop Strickland could have expressed himself in slightly different words that would have given him a longer leash. But basically, his outspokenness had already placed him on the Vatican radar. They were waiting for a moment such as this. Prayers for the Pope and payers for the bishop. Lord, save Your People!
Yes! We should all place our petitions for Bishop Strickland into our Mother's hands. I think Father's chapel in the wilderness is very nice, and I will look past the paint cans.
