James Steven Rausch

James Steven Rausch (September 4, 1928 – May 18, 1981) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the second bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix in Arizona from 1977 until his death in 1981. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud in Minnesota from 1973 to 1977.

Biography

Early life James Rausch was born in Albany, Minnesota on September 4, 1928. He attended Catholic schools in both Indiana and Minnesota. After studying economics at the University of Minnesota, Rausch received a Master of Education degree from St. Thomas College in St. Paul, Minnesota, He later earned a Doctor of Pastoral Psychology degree from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Priesthood Rausch was ordained a priest at the Cathedral of Saint Mary in St. Cloud for the Diocese of Saint Cloud on June 2, 1956, by Bishop Peter William Bartholome. He was known for his advocacy of ecumenicism and for speaking out against abortion rights for women. On occasion, he would celebrate mass in orange groves to accommodate undocumented migrants who were afraid to go into a city.

James Rausch died in Phoenix of a heart attack on May 18, 1981, at age 52.