Pope Francis accepts resignation of Knoxville Bishop Rick Stika

Pope Francis accepts resignation of Knoxville Bishop Rick Stika

CNA

Published

Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville / Catholic News Agency

Vatican City, Jun 27, 2023 / 04:31 am (CNA).

Pope Francis on Tuesday accepted the resignation of the embattled Bishop Rick Stika of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Stika, 65, was investigated by the Vatican for mismanagement of his diocese. He is also named in a 2022 lawsuit (refiled in 2023) accusing him of protecting a seminarian accused of multiple counts of rape against a parish organist.

The lawsuit also claims Stika attempted to intimidate the alleged victim into keeping quiet about the alleged sexual assault by Wojciech Sobczuk, and of having accused the alleged victim of being the perpetrator.

Pope Francis named Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre of Louisville, Kentucky as the Diocese of Knoxville's apostolic administrator until a new bishop is appointed.

This story is developing.

Full Article