A Knoxville Bishop resigns following allegations he mishandled sex abuse allegations and several of his priests complained about his leadership and behavior, sparking a Vatican investigation.
Pope Francis has accepted Bishop Richard Stika’s resignation. No replacement has been named. At 65, Stika is still 10 years below the normal retirement age for bishops.
His departure, after 14 years as bishop of Knoxville, closes a turbulent chapter for the southern U.S. diocese that was marked by a remarkable revolt by some of its priests, who accused Stika of abusing his authority and protecting a seminarian accused of sexual misconduct.
A suit filed in Chancery Court in Knox County says Stika should have known the seminarian was dangerous because he had been previously accused of sexual misconduct.
