Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, has expressed remorse for the decision to close churches during the COVID pandemic, acknowledging that he had been misled by media reports.
The apology was made in a public statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in response to a post by Eric Sammons, Editor-in-Chief of Crisis Magazine.
Sammons said:
“I wish our bishops knew the spiritual blessings that would be unleashed on the Church by a simple and sincere public apology for shutting down public Masses during COVID.”
The Bishop replied, “Eric, I offer my apology as you have requested. I was duped by the media hype and should have been stronger. Let us pray for all shepherds to have stronger supernatural faith as we face more challenges in the future. May Christ be our Light in whatever darkness we face.”
LOOK:
Eric, I offer my apology as you have requested. I was duped by the media hype and should have been stronger. Let’s us pray for all shepherds to have stronger supernatural faith as we face more challenges in the future.
May Christ be our Light in whatever darkness we face. https://t.co/RqwGQ1FK0d
— Bishop J. Strickland (@BishStrickland) September 7, 2024
Bishop Strickland’s apology highlights a growing acknowledgment among church leaders that the closure of churches during the “pandemic” may have caused more harm than good.
This reflects a deeper sense of regret and realization within the leadership.
Strickland, known for his steadfast stance against mandatory COVID vaccinations, has consistently spoken out against pandemic-related mandates, advocating for religious freedom and personal responsibility over government pressure.
His public apology is expected to strike a chord with numerous church attendees who experienced spiritual disconnection during the lockdown.
Will others follow suit?
Only time will tell.
