Pope Francis appoints new bishop in Tennessee after former bishop's resignation under pressure

Pope Francis has appointed Reverend James Mark Beckman arsenic Bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee, astir a twelvemonth aft the erstwhile bishop resigned pursuing claims helium mishandled enactment maltreatment allegations

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Pope Francis has appointed Reverend James Mark Beckman arsenic Bishop of Knoxville, Tennessee, astir a twelvemonth aft the erstwhile bishop resigned nether unit pursuing claims helium mishandled enactment maltreatment allegations.

The Vatican announced the assignment successful its Tuesday noon bulletin. As is usual, the announcement made nary notation of his predecessor oregon the circumstances nether which helium near the post.

Bishop-elect Beckman is simply a clergyman of the Diocese of Nashville wherever helium has served arsenic pastor of Saint Henry parish since 2015, according to the announcement. He earned his master's grade successful spiritual studies from the Catholic University of Louvain successful Belgium successful 1989 and was ordained to the priesthood successful 1990 for the Diocese of Nashville.

Pope Francis accepted Bishop Richard Stika’s resignation past June, closing a turbulent section for the confederate U.S. diocese that was marked by a singular revolt by immoderate of its priests. They accused Stika of abusing his authorization during his 14 years arsenic bishop of Knoxville and protecting a seminarian accused of intersexual misconduct.

They appealed to the Vatican for “merciful relief” successful 2021, citing their ain intelligence health, sparking a Vatican probe that led to Stika’s resignation.

In media interviews, Stika powerfully defended his actions and his leadership, saying helium worked to bring unity successful the diocese.