by Jules Gomes, Mere Matchlight
Conservative bishop sacked by Pope Francis protests promotion in open letter to pontiff
Pope Leo’s promotion of a pro-LGBTQ bishop, who permits a Hindu idol in his cathedral and endorses women’s ordination, has left conservative Catholics reeling as they expected the new pontiff to reverse the progressive course set by Pope Francis.
The Holy See Press Office announced on June 18 that Leo XIV had elevated Bishop Shane A. Mackinlay as the new archbishop of Brisbane — the third most populous city in Australia, where Catholics constitute the largest religious demographic.
Mackinlay, who is currently the bishop of Sandhurst, has expressed opinions contrary to Catholic teaching on hot-button issues — views well known to the new pontiff, since Leo XIV was present as Cardinal Robert Prevost at the Synod on Synodality, where Mackinlay played a key role.
In a 2023 radio interview, the new archbishop labeled Australia’s late Cardinal George Pell “complex” and “divisive,” leading Catholics who greatly revered Pell to raise questions about Leo promoting him.