Jewish groups rallied in Washington, D.C., in a vast show of solidarity for Israel, the New York Times’ Campbell Robertson, Michael Wines and Zach Montague report.

In Finland, a member of Parliament and a Lutheran bishop who said homosexual sex is a sin won a free speech victory, Christianity Today’s Daniel Silliman writes.

This is our weekly roundup of the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith. We start with Pope Francis’ removal of a conservative East Texas bishop.

What To Know: The Big Story

‘Saddened … but at peace’: News broke a week ago that Pope Francis had fired Bishop Joseph Strickland, “one of the pope’s most vocal critics in the U.S. hierarchy,” according to the Wall Street Journal’s Francis X. Rocca:

The Vatican said that the pope had “relieved [the bishop] of the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler,” Texas, and appointed Bishop Joe Vázquez of Austin as “apostolic administrator,” or acting bishop, of Tyler.

“I’m saddened for the harm to the faithful but at peace in His Truth, stay Jesus Strong,” Strickland wrote via email on Saturday, in response to a request for comment. Asked about his plans, he replied: “Just praying for now.”

The conservative bishop’s departure comes after Francis complained this summer of a “very strong reactionary attitude” among elements of the Catholic Church in the U.S.

In May, the bishop wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that “Pope Francis is the Pope but it is time for me to say that I reject his program of undermining the Deposit of Faith,” or the body of Catholic Church teaching contained in the Bible and tradition.

On the Catholic left, the National Catholic Reporter’s Brian Fraga dug deeper into the Vatican’s reasons for the axing of the “firebrand prelate” and “darling of right-wing Twitter.”

“A bishop without a diocese”: Religion News Service offered this analysis of Strickland showing up this week in Baltimore, site of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ annual gathering.

The Associated Press’ Tiffany Stanley and Peter Smith report from Baltimore:

Soon after U.S. bishops inside a Baltimore hotel approved materials on how Catholics should vote in 2024 elections, their recently ousted colleague and dozens of his supporters rallied outside the annual fall business meeting.

Bishop Joseph Strickland … prayed the rosary with dozens of supporters along the waterfront.

Stickland “expressed bemusement about his situation and his future,” according to RNS:

“I really don’t know,” he said. “My next step, after this week: I’m going to Thanksgiving dinner at my sister’s house — that’s all I know.”

He added: “I’m a bishop without a diocese, which is a strange place to be. But that’s where I am.”

Read more coverage from the New York Times’ Ruth Graham.

What it means: The bishop’s removal “signals different crises facing Catholicism,” theologians told the Dallas Morning News’ Joy Ashford.

In conservative Catholic media, read this offering from The National Catholic Register: “What’s Next for Bishop Strickland?” This piece is critical of the bishop, but also notes the views of his supporters.

And here at GetReligion, tmatt explored coverage of the Strickland case, as well as why liberal Catholic bishops and conservatives are tense at the moment, because of mixed signals from Rome. See: “Attention U.S. Catholic bishops: You are not allowed to say that this pope isn't Catholic” and “Inside a tense huddle in Baltimore: U.S. Catholic bishops wrestle with Vatican criticism.”

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. The law that attempted to defend religious freedom: “Thirty years ago, Democrats, Republicans and a wide variety of religious groups banded together to boost religious freedom protections.”

The Deseret News’ Kelsey Dallas explores how the Religious Freedom Restoration Act has — and has not — met expectations.

2. Praying for hostages: “Roughly 300 Israelis gathered in New York City at the grave of a Jewish leader known as the Rebbe. For some, it was a mission, for others, a pilgrimage.” The New York Times’ Sarah Maslin Nir reports.

3. Faith and football: “C.J. Stroud has been answering the prayers of Texans fans lately, leading the hometown team to back-to-back, game-winning drives, and earning praise as a possible candidate for NFL Most Valuable Player.

All the while, the 22-year-old rookie quarterback and the son of a former pastor is using his newfound fame to share his religious beliefs with a national audience.” The Houston Chronicle’s new religion reporter, Eric Killelea, explored the star’s faith.

CONTINUE READING: “Why Pope Francis Removed A Conservative East Texas Bishop” by Bobby Ross, Jr., at Religion Unplugged.