Word is spreading throughout the diocese of Knoxville and people are fed up. I've been approached by a number of people, some who are complete strangers to me, to express their frustration with Stika and his handling of this sexual abuse scandal, as well as unresolved financial questions concerning the Paycheck Protection Funds received …
Word is spreading throughout the diocese of Knoxville and people are fed up. I've been approached by a number of people, some who are complete strangers to me, to express their frustration with Stika and his handling of this sexual abuse scandal, as well as unresolved financial questions concerning the Paycheck Protection Funds received by the diocese (Stika received over $5 million in PPP loans, took a year to distribute the money, and is now drastically increasing the assessments on the parishes with schools that received the funds in order to pay the debt on the new cathedral). I generally advise people to do the following:
1. Pray for your pastors and let them know you support them; they're under a terrible burden with Stika as their bishop;
2. Designate your gifts to the parish if possible, and/or shift your giving to charities that the diocese cannot assess or claim the money;
3. Write to the Apostolic Nuncio and the Archbishop of Louisville, expressing your concerns over Stika; send the letters by certified mail so that there's a record of delivery. The letters may not do any good, but they certainly won't do any harm. The Church keeps all documentation, and the Stika File will grow . Eventually they will tire of opening and reading the letters. And
4. SPREAD the word! Share the Pillar articles on social media - email them to your friends and fellow parishioners. Corruption exists in the shadows, and the best disinfectant to the disease affecting the Church is the bright light of truth!
Word is spreading throughout the diocese of Knoxville and people are fed up. I've been approached by a number of people, some who are complete strangers to me, to express their frustration with Stika and his handling of this sexual abuse scandal, as well as unresolved financial questions concerning the Paycheck Protection Funds received by the diocese (Stika received over $5 million in PPP loans, took a year to distribute the money, and is now drastically increasing the assessments on the parishes with schools that received the funds in order to pay the debt on the new cathedral). I generally advise people to do the following:
1. Pray for your pastors and let them know you support them; they're under a terrible burden with Stika as their bishop;
2. Designate your gifts to the parish if possible, and/or shift your giving to charities that the diocese cannot assess or claim the money;
3. Write to the Apostolic Nuncio and the Archbishop of Louisville, expressing your concerns over Stika; send the letters by certified mail so that there's a record of delivery. The letters may not do any good, but they certainly won't do any harm. The Church keeps all documentation, and the Stika File will grow . Eventually they will tire of opening and reading the letters. And
4. SPREAD the word! Share the Pillar articles on social media - email them to your friends and fellow parishioners. Corruption exists in the shadows, and the best disinfectant to the disease affecting the Church is the bright light of truth!