SQL Server - Linked Server error - Could not connect to server XYZ because
The linked server was also used for replication. 
The order of Subscribe and Create linked server was the issue. 

Reproduce the error:
1.  Drop the subscription 
2.  Drop the linked server
3.  Configure the Subscription first
4.  Linked Server next 
5.  Testing 
- a.    Select will return results
- b.    Exec proc result in error



Fix:
1.  Drop the subscription
2.  Drop the Linked Server
3.  Create the Linked Server first
4.  Configure the Subscription next
5.  Testing
- a.    Select will return results
- b.    Exec proc will succeed

Also, executing the following on Linked Server worked as well.

--Run this statement on LNK_SRVR
exec sp_AddRemoteLogin 'CurrServer','sa'