A Texas archbishop removed a priest from ministry and shut down his mission after the priest called Pope Francis a “usurper,” citing harm and confusion among the faithful.
Story Snapshot
- San Antonio’s archbishop issued March 15, 2024 decrees removing Father John Mary Foster’s faculties and revoking his mission’s status.
- The action followed public messages labeling Pope Francis a “usurper” and “enemy of the Church,” which the archbishop called gravely scandalous.
- Reports say Foster refused to remove the posts after warnings, breaking his vow of obedience.
- Foster and his community said they must “obey God” and keep publishing the messages.
What the Decrees Did and Why It Matters
On March 15, 2024, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller issued formal decrees that removed Father John Mary Foster’s permission to minister publicly, withdrew approval of the Mission of Divine Mercy as a Catholic apostolate, and removed Foster as its leader. The decrees state Foster publicly taught that Pope Francis is “usurping the papal office.” The archbishop said he acted to prevent “confusion and grave scandal” among Catholics in San Antonio, citing his duty to protect unity and faith.
Multiple outlets reported the same core facts: Foster called Pope Francis a “usurper,” the archbishop revoked the mission’s status, and Foster’s faculties were pulled. Reports also describe repeated admonitions to remove the posts. Coverage says Foster refused, which the archdiocese viewed as disobedience that required restriction of his ministry. This was not an informal rebuke; it was a documented process with several decrees issued on the same day.
What Foster and His Community Say
Foster and the Mission of Divine Mercy defended the publications. They said that after prayer they believed God wanted them to continue sharing the messages for the good of the faithful. Foster framed the situation as an “extreme crisis” in the Church and argued that obedience to God may require not following certain orders from Church leaders. He described Pope Francis as a usurper and claimed the pope acts with illegitimate authority.
The community later amplified that view, stating they understand “Jorge Bergoglio” to be exercising illegitimate authority and acting as an enemy of Christ and the Church. That claim goes far beyond ordinary criticism and reaches the core question of papal legitimacy. Such a claim directly challenges Catholic communion and governance, which bishops are charged to guard, explaining the archdiocese’s swift action.
Where the Record Is Strong—and Where It Is Thin
The strongest evidence is the archbishop’s signed decrees and consistent reporting that Foster used the “usurper” label and refused to remove the messages. The decrees document a formal response rather than an off-the-cuff reaction. However, the publicly available record does not reproduce all disputed messages in full. That gap limits outside review of exact wording and context. There is also no separate ruling from a Vatican doctrinal office in the sources provided.
John🐍XXIII, Paul🐍VI, Francis🐍 and Leo🐍XIV are the ones guilty of schism!
BREAKING: San Antonio archbishop laicizes priest over messages calling Francis and Leo ‘usurpers’ – LifeSite https://t.co/71OyZbWyfk
— Catholic Christendom (@shiningsweu) August 14, 2026
Those gaps do not change the established facts: the archbishop judged the messages harmful and acted within his authority, and Foster’s side asserts a duty to publish despite orders to stop. In today’s climate of distrust toward institutions, both left and right see patterns here. Some will see censorship and control. Others will see needed discipline to protect unity. The deeper concern crosses politics: when leaders clamp down or dissidents double down, ordinary people feel caught in the middle.
Sources:
lifesitenews.com, ewtnnews.com, thecatholicherald.com, catholicculture.org, reddit.com, dextercduggan.substack.com
