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Diocese of Knoxville

Bishop Rick Stika, former bishop of Knoxville, dies at 68

The Pillar
Feb 17, 2026
∙ Paid

Bishop Rick Stika, who resigned from leadership of the Diocese of Knoxville in 2023, has died.

Bishop Rick Stika. Credit: Diocese of Knoxville.

Stika was 68 years old. He suffered from diabetes and heart problems, including a 2009 heart attack and a 2018 bypass surgery.

Stika had led the Diocese of Knoxville for almost 15 years before — amid allegations of…

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