Richard Frank Stika (born July 4, 1957) is an American Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Knoxville from 2009 to 2023.

He was baptized at St. Francis de Sales Church on July 21, 1957, and attended Epiphany of Our Lord School in South St.

[4] After his ordination, Stika served as an associate pastor of Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Webster Groves, Missouri, until 1991.

[10][11] In September 2014, Stika initiated fundraising to construct a new Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Knoxville,[12] He dedicated it on March 3, 2018.

"[14] In April 2021, an official of the Congregation for Bishops stated that the Vatican had received about ten accusations against Stika under the auspices of the motu proprio Vos estis lux mundi, which covered procedures for allegations of sexual abuse by clergy.

[20] Casey was convicted in July 2011 of first-degree sexual misconduct and two counts of aggravated rape and sentenced to prison.

[22] In 2017 Stika planned to ordain as a priest a transitional deacon of another diocese who had been dismissed from formation because of sexual misconduct allegations.

[25] In 2018, Stika invited Wojciech Sobczuk, a Polish seminarian, to study in the diocese on the recommendation of Cardinal Stanisław Dziwisz.

In February 2019, an organist at Sacred Heart Cathedral complained to Stika that Sobczuk had raped and sexually harassed him.

[2][26] Shortly after the alleged rape in Knoxville, Stika sent Sobczuk to study for the priesthood at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana.

[27] While attending St. Meinrad, Sobczuk received special treatment from Stika and lived in the bishop's home when not at the seminary.

Between mid-2018 and 2020, Stika earmarked $4,000 of diocesan funds as cash gifts for Sobczuk The diocese also paid his phone bill and reimbursed him nearly $30,000 in expenses for travel, car repairs, and other personal expenditures.

[26] His lawsuit also mentioned that the Jesuit Order had previously expelled Sobczuk due to allegations of sexual misconduct at SS.

[28] In response to the rape allegation against Sobczuk, the diocesan review board appointed a retired law enforcement officer to conduct an investigation.

[citation needed] After Sobczuk returned to Knoxville, Stika continued to classify him as a seminarian to protect his immigration status.