He knows what infallible means, right?

Look, I don't want to tell Catholics how to Catholic, but isn't the Pope infallible? At least according to the rules? I ask because super-conservative, and un-ironically named bishop Joseph Strickland just got his be-cassocked ass fired.

"Clean out your desk, a Swiss guy with a halberd will escort you out."

-Pope Francis, earlier today

Pictured: the Catholic equivalent
of Apple's Infinite Loop.

I'm not Catholic, I don't live in Texas, and I have no wafer in this communion beyond the schadenfreude that comes with seeing a vitriol-filled right-wing nut job gamble with his mitre cap and lose. Strickland was, until today, the bishop for the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, which I think is something like a regional manager? I don't know, see above. Anyway, he'd attracted the attention of the Holy See (corporate HQ), for being rather vocal about his, shall we say, views. Which I think you'll agree, are gross.

"Libs are ruining comedy. Anyone else sick of
the woke agenda? Make 'merica great again!"

-Jesus's famous Rant on the Mount

Catholics are, by and large, pretty evenly spilt politically in the U.S. although the only two Catholic Presidents we've ever had have been Democratic. So when a bishop opens his pious hole about--what? Like pie hole? Oh, settle down...anyway, Strickland got pretty political, attacking marriage equality, spreading anti-vaxxer bullshit, and voicing his support not only for Donald Trump, but the January 6th coup attempt to install him as President for life. You know, just like Jesus would do. 

"No, you don't know him...he lives in Canada."

-Strickland, on his letter-writing friend

And then came last month when Strickland read a spicy letter from a "dear friend" that he definitely did not write himself, in which his friend denounces Pope Francis's "openness" and "welcoming spirit" and gets into some really weird nonsense about the "blood of the martyrs" which isn't at all terrifying. The letter also suggested that the Pope considers anyone who opposes him to be an enemy of the church. In all, it was a damning indictment...from Strickland's friend who totally exists. And I have some questions about how all of this works.

Above: the Cool Pope.

But first, I want to again be clear that I'm not a Catholic or really religious at all, but I do find this kind of stuff fascinating. Like, I kind of got the impression that Francis was considered "the cool Pope," although it's kind of a relative thing. This is a global institution that openly discriminates against women, opposes LGBTQIA+ equality, and spent decades protecting sex offenders, but Francis is, I don't know, less hostile than the last guy? So...progress?

Speaking of the last guy, Strickland's screed including him suggesting that Francis replaced the true Pope, Benedict XVI. Which, I mean, Benedict stepped down and Francis was elected in his place, it's not like he stole the papacy. But I guess as a MAGA goon, Strickland feels obligated to make up conspiracy theories when he doesn't like the election results.

What, does he think they rigged the white smoke thing--oh...
right. He 100% thinks they did exactly that, doesn't he?

Pictured: basically the Pope.

And as much as I'm biased against Strickland, or anyone who's using religion to justify their own shitty behavior and views, isn't he, by virtue of opposing the boss (and not just the aforementioned shitty behavior and views), wrong? I don't pretend to understand papal infallibility, but I think the gist is that if the Pope says something like "hey, maybe stop calling gay people godless deviants," everyone supposed to, you know, do that. The Pope is taken to be the guy who speaks for God. He's basically Locutus of Borg, so what did Strickland think would happen?

I don't care really. Like, none of this affects me personally, it's just that I guess I enjoy seeing someone whose been so vocal in their condemnation of what is, at best, a slight shift towards progress in a two-thousand year-old organization, get so publicly fired. 

Well, hopefully Bishop Strickland can find a use for all those sour grapes.