In 2018 Bishop Joseph Strickland, who led the diocese of Tyler, in Texas, stuck his head above the parapet at a gathering of the United States Bishops’ Conference, 46 days after the Washington Post broke the story of then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s now well-known depravity.
He asked: “How did that happen? If we really believe that what was going on was wrong, how did he get promoted? There seem to be questions about that, and I think we have to face that directly. Do we believe the doctrine of the Church or not?”
In 2019 Strickland stood up again, challenging Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego’s seamless-garment approach to life issues which set up an artificial battle between the conference and the Holy Father. …