In the digital age, even prominent religious figures are not immune to cybercrime. Bishop Joseph Strickland, the former bishop of Tyler, Texas, and a well-known voice in traditionalist Catholic circles, has faced multiple incidents of his X account being compromised. These events, occurring in 2025, highlight the growing threat of cyberattacks targeting influential individuals and the broader implications for online security within religious communities. This blog post explores the timeline of the hacking incidents, their impact, and the lessons they offer for safeguarding digital identities.
The First Incident: March 2025
On March 3, 2025, Bishop Strickland found himself locked out of his X account, which boasted over 215,000 followers at the time. A fraudulent account began using his name to promote a fake cryptocurrency called “$CHRIST coin.” This scam was particularly insidious, leveraging the bishop’s reputation as a trusted religious figure to deceive followers into investing in a nonexistent digital currency. In a statement to LifeSiteNews, Bishop Strickland clarified, “I have been locked out of my X account since March 3, 2025. I am attempting to resolve the issue with X but in the meantime I’ve been informed that there is a post on X claiming that I am promoting a bit coin. It is NOT ME and I have no knowledge of this bit coin promotion.” He urged his followers to spread awareness of the fraud and emphasized his efforts to resolve the issue to prevent anyone from being defrauded.
This incident underscored the vulnerability of public figures to impersonation scams, particularly those involving cryptocurrencies, which have become a common tool for cybercriminals. The use of Bishop Strickland’s identity to promote a fake coin not only threatened financial harm to his followers but also damaged his reputation as a figure of moral authority.
The Second Incident: August 2025
Just months later, on August 16, 2025, Bishop Strickland’s X account was hacked again. This time, the breach was even more egregious, with the account posting blasphemous messages, cryptocurrency promotions, and other content clearly not authored by the bishop. According to InfoVaticana, these posts were a stark departure from Strickland’s usual messages of faith and doctrine, reflecting an “evident hackeo” (evident hacking). The content was described as escalating in severity over several days, with some posts containing explicit material, as noted by an X user who observed a worsening trend in the hacked content.
The August hack prompted swift reactions from supporters. One X user, @KeithFournier7, posted on August 16, 2025, stating, “Bishop Joseph Strickland’s X (twitter) account has been both hacked and impersonated by someone who is obviously an evil person seeking to harm this holy, good successor of the Apostles. This impostor needs to be found and exposed. Please, report it.” The outcry from Strickland’s followers highlighted the emotional and spiritual toll of the hack, as many saw it as an attack not only on the bishop but also on the values he represents.
Context: Who is Bishop Joseph Strickland?
To understand why Bishop Strickland’s account might be a target, it’s important to consider his background. Joseph Strickland served as the bishop of Tyler, Texas, from 2012 until his removal by Pope Francis in November 2023. Known for his outspoken defense of traditional Catholic teachings, Strickland gained a significant following on X, where he frequently commented on matters of faith, morality, and church governance. His removal from the Tyler Diocese, following an apostolic visitation prompted by his criticisms of Pope Francis, made him a polarizing figure. Despite his ousting, Strickland maintained a strong online presence, with his X following growing to over 215,000 by late 2024, far surpassing the Catholic population of his former diocese.
Strickland’s prominence in conservative Catholic circles likely made his account an attractive target for hackers. His large, engaged audience provided a platform for scammers to reach potential victims, while his controversial status may have drawn the attention of malicious actors seeking to undermine his influence or sow discord among his followers.
The Broader Implications
The hacking of Bishop Strickland’s X account is part of a larger trend of cyberattacks targeting public figures and institutions. For comparison, in January 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) X account was compromised through a SIM-swapping attack, leading to a false announcement about Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) that temporarily spiked Bitcoin prices. This incident, which resulted in the arrest of an Alabama man, demonstrates how hackers exploit trusted accounts to manipulate markets or public perception.
For religious communities, these incidents raise unique concerns. Social media platforms like X are increasingly vital for clergy to communicate with their followers, share spiritual guidance, and counter misinformation. However, they also expose religious leaders to risks such as reputational damage, financial scams targeting their audiences, and the spread of content that contradicts their values. The blasphemous posts on Strickland’s account, for instance, could alienate followers or fuel distrust in online religious discourse.
Moreover, the hacks highlight the sophistication of modern cyberattacks. While the exact methods used to compromise Strickland’s account are unclear, techniques like phishing, SIM-swapping, or password breaches are common in such cases. As one X user noted in a unrelated post about hacking, even decentralized systems are vulnerable if users fall prey to social engineering attacks like phishing, which manipulate individuals into revealing sensitive information.
Lessons for Online Security
The repeated targeting of Bishop Strickland’s X account offers several lessons for individuals and organizations, particularly those in the public eye:
1. Strengthen Account Security: Public figures should use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect their accounts. Avoiding SMS-based 2FA, which is vulnerable to SIM-swapping, in favor of app-based or hardware-based authentication can enhance security.
2. Educate Followers: Religious leaders and their communities should educate followers about recognizing scams, such as cryptocurrency promotions or posts that deviate from a figure’s usual tone or content. Quick reporting of suspicious activity, as urged by Strickland’s supporters, can help mitigate damage.
3. Monitor and Respond Promptly: Regularly monitoring account activity and having a plan to address hacks—such as public statements or collaboration with platform support—can limit the impact of a breach. Strickland’s proactive communication through LifeSiteNews in March 2025 helped clarify the situation for his followers.
4. Raise Awareness of Cyber Risks: Religious institutions should invest in cybersecurity training to protect their leaders and members from phishing, impersonation, and other digital threats. As Strickland himself noted in the August 2025 hack coverage, he would need to seek “the advice of a good computer expert” to safeguard his online presence.
Conclusion
The hacking of Bishop Joseph Strickland’s X account in 2025 serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in our digital world. For a figure like Strickland, whose influence extends far beyond his former diocese, these incidents threaten not only personal reputation but also the trust of a global online community. By understanding the nature of these attacks and taking proactive steps to enhance security, religious leaders can better protect their digital platforms and continue their missions without disruption. As cyberattacks grow more sophisticated, the faithful and their shepherds must remain vigilant to ensure that their voices of truth are not silenced or distorted by malicious actors.
UPDATE August 19, 2025 8:40 PM, Bishop Strickland has created a new X account:
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This is now my only valid X account. Shortly after launching https://t.co/mkOWlpLXEg and the Pillars of Faith apostolate, my old X account was hacked. The enemy always seeks to silence truth, but Christ is stronger.
— Bishop Joseph Strickland @ Pillars of Faith (@BishStrick) August 18, 2025
+Bishop Joseph E. Strickland
- InfoVaticana. “Hackean la cuenta de X del obispo Strickland.” August 16, 2025. [](https://infovaticana.com/2025/08/16/hackean-la-cuenta-de-x-del-obispo-strickland/)
- LifeSiteNews. “WARNING: Fraudulent X account is attempting to use Bishop Strickland’s identity to sell crypto.” March 6, 2025. [](https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/warning-fraudulent-x-account-is-attempting-to-use-bishop-stricklands-identity-to-sell-crypto)
- X Post by @KeithFournier7. August 16, 2025.
- X Post by @SarahisCensored. August 7, 2025.
- United States Department of Justice. “Alabama Man Arrested for Role in Securities and Exchange Commission X Account Hack.” October 17, 2024. [](https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/alabama-man-arrested-role-securities-and-exchange-commission-x-account-hack)
- Catholic Review. “Ousted Texas bishop attacks Pope Francis, accuses U.S. bishops of silence amid ‘false messages’.” November 13, 2024. [](https://catholicreview.org/ousted-texas-bishop-attacks-pope-francis-accuses-u-s-bishops-of-silence-amid-false-messages/)
- Wikipedia. “Joseph Strickland.” May 13, 2025.[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Strickland)
