183: Woke Pope Cancels America's Bishop (w/Mike Lewis)

Conspiracy Theory Catholicism is back, bringing together Satanic Panickers, anti-vaxxers, tradwives who think (or at least say) birth control is an abomination, and survivalist prayer bros who string bullets into rosaries. This motley bunch agree on one thing: Pope Francis is just too damn woke.

The movement has many leaders, but only one man has been dubbed “America’s Bishop”: Joseph Edward Strickland, the now-former Bishop of Tyler, East Texas. “Former,” because on November 11, the Pope of Woke canceled him from his post. 

Our guest today, Mike Lewis of the Catholic news and opinion website, wherepeteris.com, walks us through this strange tale, detailing how Strickland courted his own demise by going batshit on Twitter during the pandemic, suggesting Francis is a heretic, calling Joe Biden evil, and railing against abortion-derived vaccines.

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Show Notes

Mel Gibson: The man without a pope - Where Peter Is 

Americans, including Catholics, continue to have favorable views of Pope Francis

Many Americans — including most Republicans — believe the pope should stay out of U.S. affairs | YouGov

Searching for Answers: Why Was Bishop Joseph Strickland Removed?  

QAnon Conspiracies Sway Faith Groups, Including 1 in 4 White Evangelicals | News & Reporting | Christianity Today 

New poll: QAnon embraced by 11 percent of white Catholics and 15 percent of all Americans | America Magazine  

Just one-third of U.S. Catholics agree with their church that Eucharist is body, blood of Christ 

Many Americans believe in the supernatural, UFOs | Ipsos 

Pope Francis’ unexpected friendship with a group of trans women | America Magazine 

The making of Bishop Strickland - Where Peter Is 

Strickland's Adventurous Online Legacy - Mike Lewis Extra 

Bishop Strickland's "Letter from a Friend" 

Podcast: Fr. James Martin on Pope Francis and accompaniment - Where Peter Is 

‘Medical Freedom’ Activists Take Aim at New Target: Childhood Vaccine Mandates

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