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[Catholic Caucus] The SSPX and the Question of Apostolic ContinuityThe current situation involving the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has once again revealed a serious and unresolved reality within the Church – one that cannot be dismissed, delayed indefinitely, or answered with silence.In the years following the Council, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre acted under the conviction that essential elements of the Church’s life – the traditional priestly formation, the sacramental theology that shaped it, and the Mass that had nourished countless saints – were being abandoned or actively suppressed. The Society of St. Pius X arose from that crisis and,...

[Catholic Caucus] An Open Letter to US DiocesesThe Annual Appeal was launched in our diocese this weekend, as it has been or will be in many other dioceses, with a sound-tracked video at every Mass and a step-by-step walk-through of the completion of pledge cards. While I sympathize with the committee that came up with that tedious line-by-line approach, it doesn’t wear well on adults.Instead, maybe give us an honest accounting of where our money has gone, the steps taken to protect and report it, and a picture of the accounting best practices that assure us the money is spent...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland: ‘I cannot remain silent’ as confusion in the Church deepensThe greatest danger facing the Church today is not persecution from the outside. The Church has endured emperors, revolutions, prisons, martyrdom; the deeper danger today is confusion within.My brothers and sisters in Christ,There are moments in the life of the Church when a shepherd feels a weight that cannot be ignored. Not a political pressure. Not a media storm. But a quiet, insistent sense of responsibility before God. A sense that silence, however comfortable it might seem, is no longer faithful. READ: Scholars break down why Zionism...

[Catholic Caucus] Do Not Be Conformed to the World…or to Church LeadersWhen the culture is benign, being a conformist works. But in a malignant culture, where the devil roams freely at the highest levels, beware conformity; it can kill body and soul.The word of the day for Catholics is “unity.” For the sake of it, entire congregations are ghettoized (TLM), bishops exiled (Strickland), faculties gutted (Sacred Heart), and dioceses fractured (Charlotte). Strange to think that the peculiar synodality project is more or less based on giving every wayward lifestyle and viewpoint a podium but the faithful who have dedicated their...

Bishop Strickland on Pope Leo XIV, SSPX, Gaza, and MoreThis week, I was honored to host His Excellency Bishop Joseph Strickland on my new podcast channel: In preparation for our discussion, I sent His Excellency a total of seven questions covering a myriad of topics, namely:the first few months of Leo XIV’s pontificate;Pope Leo’s call for “complete commitment” to Vatican II and the post-conciliar program;the importance of recovering liturgical reverence and theocentric worship in the Christian West;the profound damage done by Pope Francis and how to correct it;the canonical status of the Society of St. Pius X, in particular, the...

[Catholic Caucus] EXCLUSIVE Bishop Strickland: on Pope Leo XIV, the Latin Mass and Archbishop LefebvreBishop Joseph Strickland is a well-known and well-loved prelate for many conservative Catholics.Ordained for the Diocese of Dallas in 1985 and appointed Bishop of Tyler, Texas, by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, he has in recent years become a vocal critic of certain Vatican policies which he believes go against “the truth of the Gospel.” He was removed as Bishop of Tyler in 2023 after a Vatican investigation concluded that “the continuation in office of Bishop Strickland was not feasible.”In this exclusive interview, he discusses his...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland: ‘The Church is not called to create truth, but to receive it’Cardinal William Goh of Singapore voiced concerns that the ambiguity in papal teaching has led to confusion among bishops and disunity among the laity,' observes Bishop Strickland.I repeat these words from the prophet Amos because they are critical for our time. There has been much bending away from the plumb line of truth. It should be our only measure.“And the Lord said: Behold, I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people …” (Amos 7:8).In recent remarks, Cardinal William Goh of Sigapore...

Prevost is a vocal critic of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and has consistently used his X account to promote material hostile to Trump’s immigration policies. In one instance from February 3, Prevost reposted an article by NCROnline titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” The article criticizes the U.S. vice president for correctly arguing that we owe more immediate responsibility to our own family members and country than to those overseas – a position taught by St. Thomas Aquinas and reiterated in the “social encyclicals” of the nineteenth- and twentieth-century popes....

Could Cardinal Prevost be the first American pope?Seemingly out of nowhere, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is being discussed as a serious candidate in the upcoming conclave.Why this piece is important: Prevost is being seriously considered as a papal candidate—but questions surround his silence and his actions as Prefect for the Dicastery of Bishops. The big picture: Prevost has cooperated in advancing Francis’ agenda, facilitated the appointment of heterodox bishops throughout the world, and tacitly denied the traditional teaching on the episcopate. Flashpoint: He oversaw the deposition of the most conservative U.S. bishop (Strickland) and the appointment of a notorious liberal...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland’s message just ahead of the conclave: ‘Passion leads to Resurrection’ The cardinals may elect a new pope who continues the errors, the silence. But their failures do not excuse ours. We must cling to the faith – not sentimentality, not nostalgia.Welcome back to another episode of A Shepherd’s Voice. This week, as the cardinals of the Church gather in Rome to elect a new pope, the eyes of the world turn once again to the Vatican. For many faithful Catholics, this is not a moment of joy or confidence – but of sorrow, confusion, and fear....

Bishop Strickland issues urgent letter as Texas hospital may withdraw life support from babyBishop Strickland issued a public statement today in support of Baby Elaine Wren, an infant currently hospitalized in Texas who may have life support withdrawn against her parents' wishes. Bishop Joseph E. Strickland issued a public statement today in support of Baby Elaine Wren, an infant currently hospitalized in Texas and dependent on a breathing apparatus. Despite her family’s desire to continue life-sustaining treatment, the hospital may soon withdraw care under the authority of the Texas Advance Directives Act (TADA), commonly known as the “25-day rule.” READ:...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland: Courage as a bishop ‘is a requirement’Bp. Strickland renewed his criticism of trends within the Catholic Church, especially the Synod on Synodality, warning that 'many souls are being led astray.’Bishop Joseph Strickland has warned of a “deliberate effort to undermine the unchanging truths of the Catholic faith from within the Church herself.”“The silence of the shepherds in the face of injustice and the erosion of truth is serious,” said Strickland in a new interview published by Spanish outlet InfoVaticana.Since being removed by the Pope as bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, in November 2023, Strickland...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland urges brother priests to confront insidious evils attacking the Church'I urge you to acquaint yourself with St. Peter Damian, a fearless defender of truth who stood against the corruption of his time,' Strickland wrote, urging his brother priests to stand up to the corruption assailing the Church.Note: The following was written and distributed by Bishop Joseph Strickland at the second annual “Catholic Prayer for America” gala at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday, March 19.(LifeSiteNews) — Dear brother priests,I pray that these Lenten days we presently journey through are a time of abundant grace for you, deepening your life...

[Catholic Caucus] Catholics thank Bishop Strickland with billboards, newspaper adA digital billboard reading ‘Thank you Bishop Strickland!’ appeared in the city of Tyler, Texas, this month, and a full-page ad saying the same has been published in the Tyler Morning Telegraph.TYLER, Texas (LifeSiteNews) — A group of Catholics are honoring Bishop Joseph Strickland in a very public way.A digital billboard reading “Thank you Bishop Strickland!” appeared in the city of Tyler, Texas, this month, and a full-page ad saying the same has been published in the Tyler Morning Telegraph. Another billboard thanking the former ordinary of the Diocese of Tyler...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishops Burning BridgesAs much as the American public is shocked by the ongoing DOGE revelations of our abuse by the Federal government, betrayal by spiritual leaders is infinitely worse.When I was in Catholic graduate studies, our instructors would alert us to incoming papal encyclicals. Excitement would build, delectatory anticipation of what Pope John Paul might say. When it was finally promulgated, it would be all the buzz during class breaks, as we sieved out insights about suffering, women, the elderly, and always, always Jesus Christ. Now I look back on that innocent spiritual intoxication the way I remember...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland: I am ‘heartbroken’ over the USCCB’s response to Trump immigration policiesVice President J.D. Vance stated that he was heartbroken over the response of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding immigration and this Administration’s policies. I am also heartbroken at the bishops’ response.— My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As I have watched the situation unfold with Catholic Charities and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), I feel I must speak out as a shepherd in concern for the flock. Our new Vice President, J.D. Vance, stated that he was heartbroken over...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland: Compromises to the Mass are ‘extremely dangerous’ to ‘Catholic life’'The emphasis on mercy and inclusion at the expense of repentance lessens the understanding of the Mass as a holy sacrifice that requires proper preparation and reverence, and this could lead to the taking of the Eucharist unworthily,' writes Bishop Strickland. (Editorial note: The following is a letter from Bishop Strickland.)Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am writing this letter to talk to you about the Holy Mass. As St. Padre Pio said, “It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland decries Pope Francis’ appointment of Cardinal McElroy as DC archbishopBishop Strickland slammed heterodox, pro-LGBT Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego as a ‘corrupt hireling’ in response to his appointment as archbishop of Washington, D.C., by Pope Francis and called on Catholics to ‘speak out against these wolves of the hierarchy.’Editor’s note: The following statement is taken from an X post by Bishop Joseph Strickland published on January 6, 2025. (LifeSiteNews) — In November, I asked the bishops of the United States, “What will it take?” It’s not surprising that I received no response from the bishops....

Bishop Strickland: ‘It is clear that Archbishop Lefebvre walked an apostle’s path’It is clear that Archbishop Lefebvre walked an apostle’s path and was led to establish a safe place, a refuge, where could be found the Mass of the ages in its pure form, a place where the Deposit of Faith would be protected, and the staircase preserved intact, even while the ape of the Church was pulling off boards and throwing out all that is most precious.Abp. Marcel Lefebvre (third from right).Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,At this time of year, as we wait for Our Lord, I want...

[Catholic Caucus] Would St. Ambrose Get Fired Today?What would Pope Francis have done with an Ambrose standing in the emperor’s path?The Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor, on December 7. By liturgical standards, he’s important. Not only is his an obligatory memorial (i.e., you have to celebrate it), but it’s an obligatory memorial in Advent. Saints—especially saints of the early Church—were often the subjects of classical art. Great painters often depicted them, and especially signature moments from their lives, in their paintings. One of those great painters depicting a great saint was the master of Flemish...