Pope Francis has removed outspoken conservative Bishop Daniel Fernández Torres of the Diocese of Arecibo in Puerto Rico without formal proceedings, over allegations of disobedience and lack of collegiality with fellow Puerto Rican bishops.
The Holy See announced that Pope Francis “relieved” the Arecibo bishop from pastoral care of his diocese in a March 9 notice.
Bishop Fernández Torres, 57, a staunch defender of life and family and an opponent of COVID vaccine mandates, protested his removal as “totally unjust” in a statement Wednesday.
The bishop, who led the Diocese of Arecibo for nearly 12 years, noted that Pope Francis’ apostolic delegate to Puerto Rico verbally requested that he resign, but said that he refused to do so, as he “did not want to become an accomplice of a totally unjust action.”
“No process has been made against me,” Bishop Fernández Torres wrote, “nor have I been formally accused of anything, and simply one day the apostolic delegate verbally communicated to me that Rome was asking me to resign.”
______________________________________________________
Watch: Catholics, Other Christians Protest Pope’s Removal of Puerto Rican Bishop
Puerto Rican Catholics and other Christians protested Pope Francis’ removal of a popular, conservative bishop in a demonstration on Sunday.
A large group of people gathered in front of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in San Juan in support of Bishop Daniel Fernández Torres, who was dismissed from the Diocese of Arecibo last week without a canonical process over allegations of disobedience to the pope. The bishop’s ousting was a direct result of his defense of conscience objections to COVID-19 shots, according to news reports.
Catholics from dioceses across the island came to testify to the bishop’s character on Sunday and demand that the pope reinstate him.
“Before becoming a bishop, he was a public defender of the faith, of the family, and a great teacher of principles and values,” organizers said. “A vigilant soldier to safeguard everyone’s freedom of conscience. An example of meekness, firmness and dignity.”
“Let them hear it here, let them hear it in Rome: Monsignor Daniel is innocent,” demonstrators chanted throughout the event.
via joemiller
