A Toowoomba bishop sacked for discussing the possibility of ordaining women says there is a "creeping centralism" in the Catholic Church.

Bishop William Morris said he was investigated for five years for being "too open" and "too inclusive" in his diocese.

He was this week forced to retire early because of a letter in 2006 to his parish, in which he discussed whether falling numbers of Catholic priests could be offset by the ordination of women, or married men or ministers from other churches.
 
The bishop, who has served in the Toowoomba region for 18 years, told 612 ABC radio this morning that Rome controlled bishops by fear and turned a deaf ear to the community.

"There is a creeping centralism in the church at the moment. There's a creeping authoritarianism," he said.

“My leadership was questioned as too open … and there was the misreading of my letter of course.

"I had a meeting with Pope Benedict in 2009. He quoted back to me basically what the Cardinals had quoted back to me at a meeting that previous year, which was this interpretation of my pastoral letter of 2006."

Bishop Morris said he was not advocating the change, but pointing to local, national and international debate on the issues.

"I believe that a conversation needs to be had, whether its on the ordination of women, whether its on birth control ... whatever in the life of the community or the life of the world," he said.

"My issue has always been that I need to be a voice for the people."

Bishop Morris said he believed Rome was increasingly exerting its might in silencing bishops across the world.

"I believe the Vatican hasn't given me a voice ... and that means it hasn't given the people a voice," he said.

"The church is governed with all the bishops in the world and the Pope and I think in many ways the local bishops have been sidelined - they've become like branch managers - and have lost a lot of their voice ... in the governance of the church."

Last night Brisbane Archbishop John Bathersby paid tribute to Bishop Morris and his care of the Toowoomba Diocese.

“I am aware there had been matters of concern between Bishop Morris and the Holy See in recent years which have culminated in [this] announcement,” he said.

Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane Brian Finnigan has been appointed to administer the Toowoomba Diocese while a permanent replacement is found.

“Bishop Brian has diligently served as one of my auxiliary bishops since 2002 and is a former General Secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference,” Archbishop Bathersby said.

“I am only too happy to assist Bishop Morris and Bishop Finnigan in this time of change for the Diocese of Toowoomba and its priests and people.”

Pope Benedict accepted what has been called the forced resignation of Bishop Morris.

In a short statement on the Catholic Church's website the Pope said he "released" the bishop from the "governance of the Diocese of Toowoomba".

A candlelight vigil procession in support of Toowoomba's deposed Catholic Bishop William Morris will move through the city's streets this evening.

"I'm not sad for myself, but I'm sad for the local church," Bishop Morris said.

"I'm not angry ... I'm just sad."

He said he was grateful for the "love and affection" of the community.

"I wish this hadn't have happened, but I would have been a dishonest person if I hadn't stood my ground and if I hadn't have tried to give a voice to the community," he said.