After investigation, the pope forcibly dismisses the Bishop of Memphis

VATICAN CITY – Bishop Martin Holley, Bishop of Memphis, Tennessee, was forcibly removed following a Vatican inquiry into the diocese.

The Vatican did not say why Holley had been kidnapped. In a brief announcement on Wednesday, the Vatican only declared that Francis had "relieved (Holley) of the pastoral governance" of the diocese and appointed Louisville Archbishop Joseph Kurtz to temporarily replace him until he had been relieved. a new bishop be named.

The Vatican commonly uses phrasing in this announcement when the pope forcibly eliminates a bishop who refuses to resign voluntarily.

Earlier this year, the Vatican dispatched two archbishops to investigate Holley's actions since being appointed Bishop in 2016, according to reports from that time. One of Holley's members resigned suddenly in June.

The results of the Vatican inquiry have not been made public. The Catholic Diocese of Memphis issued a statement on Wednesday, but it did not reveal why Holley had been kidnapped.

"I look forward to working with the priests, the curia and the faithful of the diocese of Memphis to promote stability, peace and healing until Pope Francis appoints a new bishop," Kurtz said in a statement. communicated.

Holley was installed as bishop in October 2016. Previously, he was Auxiliary Bishop under Cardinals Theodore McCarrick and Donald Wuerl in Washington. The commercial call reports that the two men attended the installation of Holley.

Earlier this year, McCarrick resigned from the College of Cardinals and retired from public life after a series of allegations of sexual abuse dating back to his early days as a priest in New York and bishop in New York. Jersey. Wuerl resigned earlier this month after being accused of concealing multiple scandals related to abuse while he was bishop in Pittsburgh.

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