UNITED STATES
BishopAccountability.org – Assignment Record
Summary of Case: A priest of the St. Cloud diocese ordained in 1956, Rausch started his career as a high school teacher and spiritual director. He earned a PhD in pastoral psychology in Rome, and went on to become General Secretary of the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops. Rausch was known as a champion of social justice issues. He was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of St. Cloud in 1973, then Bishop of Phoenix in 1977, where he served until his sudden death in 1981, at age 52 . Rausch was accused in a lawsuit that was settled in 2002 of sexually abusing 17 year-old boy in 1979. His accuser, who is said to have had incriminating photographs of Rausch, claimed that Rausch then “passed him on” to two other priests.
Born: Sept. 4, 1928
Ordained: June 2, 1956
Died: May 18, 1981
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