Former Bishop Richard Stika Passes Away
Courtesy: Diocese of Knoxville
The former Bishop over Catholics in our area has died.
Richard Stika was 68.
He stepped down for health reasons three years ago from the Diocese of Knoxville.
He said he had been battling diabetes and heart problems.
Stika was a controversial figure after being accused of covering up a case of a priest abusing a fourth grade students.
Other lawsuits accused the diocese of intimidating victims.
He denied the accusations and was never charged with anything.
Stika said that he, himself, had been abused by a priest in high school.
