Pope Leo appoints ‘Strickland’s Judas’ priest, Fr. John Gomez, as bishop of Laredo

TYLER, Texas (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Leo XIV named Tyler, Texas, priest Fr. John Gomez as the new bishop of Laredo, Texas. The move raised eyebrows since Gomez was instrumental in the removal of beloved Tyler, Texas, Bishop Joseph Strickland by Pope Francis.

Gomez was vicar general in Tyler under Strickland, but was nevertheless the one who arranged clergy from the diocese to meet with Vatican investigators sent to assess Strickland’s leadership. One of the sources close to Strickland who identified Gomez’s role was Deacon Keith Fournier, who, when called in to give testimony about Bishop Strickland to the Vatican investigators, informed me that he was called by the vicar general – Gomez.

Fournier told me that on his arrival he found that the visitation was “not seeking information but a foregone conclusion seeking a way to justify asking (Strickland) to resign.”

I communicated with three other individuals intimately involved with the diocese who confirmed that Fr. John Gomez was instrumental in Bishop Strickland’s removal, but don’t wish to be named for fear of reprisal.

One of them called Gomez “Strickland’s Judas” and said the appointment was “disappointing but not surprising” since Gomez is “a progressive pro-Francis liberal guy.”

Another remarked that Gomez is a “very nasty man, a back stabber.” A third source in the diocese said insiders suggest Gomez initiated the Vatican visitation.

One of the sources noted that Pope Leo XIV might know Gomez personally since Leo (Robert Prevost) was in charge of the Congregation for Bishops at the Vatican under Francis and was directly responsible for the investigation and removal of Bishop Strickland.

Developing…

John-Henry is the co-founder and CEO of LifeSiteNews.com. He and his wife Dianne have eight children and they live in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario, Canada.

He has spoken at conferences and retreats, and appeared on radio and television throughout the world. John-Henry founded the Rome Life Forum, an annual strategy meeting for life, faith and family leaders worldwide. He is a board member of the John Paul II Academy for Human Life and the Family. He is a consultant to Canada’s largest pro-life organization Campaign Life Coalition, and serves on the executive of the Ontario branch of the organization. He has run three times for political office in the province of Ontario representing the Family Coalition Party.

John-Henry earned an MA from the University of Toronto in School and Child Clinical Psychology and an Honours BA from York University in Psychology.