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.
On March 5, 1973, Pope Paul VI appointed Rausch auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of St. Cloud; he was consecrated by Cardinal John Krol on April 16, 1973.
Bishop of Phoenix
On June 17, 1977, Rausch was appointed bishop of the Phoenix Diocese serving until his death.[2][3] He was known for his advocacy of ecumenicism and for speaking out against abortion rights for women. [4] On occasion, he would celebrate mass in orange groves to accommodate undocumented migrants who were afraid to go into a city.[1]
James Rausch died in Phoenix of a heart attack on May 18, 1981, at age 52.[2][4]