KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WHITE) – The Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville announces the death of its former Bishop Richard F. Stika. He was the diocese’s longest-serving bishop before resigning in 2023.
Stika is 68 years old. In 2009, he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as the third bishop of Knoxville and retired in June 2023. A statement from the diocese said they were awaiting further details and would release information about funeral and memorial service arrangements at a later date.
Stika said in his 2023 retirement announcement that he had dealt with life-threatening health issues for most of his adult life. He wrote that in 2009 he nearly died from a diabetic coma that left him blind in one eye, but survived a heart attack.
His departure comes amid calls for his resignation from a group of advocates for child sex abuse victims amid accusations that he mishandled sex abuse reports, triggering a Vatican investigation. Stika has denied covering up the abuse and said he hopes to remain active in ministry near his hometown of St. Louis.
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