Statement of Bishop William R. Houck
on
Appointment of
Monsignor Joseph N. Latino
as
10th Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson
January 3, 2003
I wish to announce that Pope John Paul II has accepted my resignation
as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Jackson effective today. I am also
very pleased and grateful to our Holy Father for the wonderful gift of
the appointment of Monsignor Joseph N. Latino to be the 10th Bishop of
the Catholic Diocese of Jackson. Up until this time he has been serving
as the rector of St. Francis de Sales Cathedral in Houma, Louisiana.
He also has been the Vicar General as well as the Chancellor of the Diocese
of Houma-Thibodaux. Just recently on the occasion of Bishop Michael Jarrell
leaving the diocese to become the Bishop of Lafayette, Louisiana, Monsignor
Latino was elected by the Consultors to be the Administrator of the diocese.
Monsignor Latino is a native of New Orleans, born on October 21, 1937.
He attended St. Joseph Seminary College in Covington, Louisiana and Notre
Dame Seminary in New Orleans and was ordained to the priesthood on May
25, 1963.
He has served as an associate pastor at St. Francis de Sales in Houma.
He was assigned to St. John Prep Seminary in New Orleans as teacher and
spiritual director in 1968-69.
From 1969-1971 he was assigned to St. Philip the Apostle Church in the
Desire Project.
He served as pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Houma, Louisiana from
1972-1987, at which time he was appointed Rector of St. Francis de Sales
Cathedral. During the intervening years he has served as Vocation Director
for the Diocese and was named a Monsignor with the title Prelate of Honor
in January 1983.
Various responsibilities as Pastor, Spiritual Director, Dean, Chancellor
and Vicar General of the Diocese and now recently elected as Administrator
of the Diocese are indicative of his pastoral and administrative abilities.
He has wonderful experience as a priest, as an administrator, as a spiritual
director, as a pastor beloved and respected by his people and the priests
of the diocese. We in the Diocese of Jackson are joyful, privileged and
grateful to welcome him as our new bishop and pledge to him our love,
loyalty and support.
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Diocese of Jackson
Statement from Bishop Elect Joseph Latino
January 3, 2003
I am deeply humbled by our Holy Father's decision to appoint me as the
Tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Jackson.
I accept this appointment with a grateful heart, but also with mixed
feelings and a bit of trepidation.
I say I am "grateful" because of the confidence and trust
Pope John Paul II has placed in me and because of the kind offer of assistance
and support I have received from your great shepherd, Bishop William
Houck.
I say I have "mixed feelings" because I have been a happy
and fulfilled priest in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and in the Diocese
of Houma-Thibodaux, yet I am also awed and energized by the great Catholic
tradition of this venerable Diocese of Jackson.
I say I accept the call to be your new shepherd with some "trepidation" because
of my own unworthiness. At the same time I am confident that with the
hard work, support and prayers of our dedicated clergy, religious and
laity we will continue to build God's Kingdom here in this blessed and
beautiful part of the Magnolia State.
I sincerely ask for your prayers and support as we strive to accomplish
the Lord Jesus' desire "That All May Be One."
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Diocese of Jackson
January 7, 2003
Truth and honesty require a clarification and correction of some news
reports of the announcement on January 3, 2003 of my resignation as Bishop
of Jackson. The Church's Code of Canon Law requires all bishops to submit
their resignation to the Vatican on or shortly after their 75th birthday.
In accordance with this policy, I offered my resignation on June 26,
2001, my 75th birthday. In reply, the Vatican asked me to continue my
service as Bishop of Jackson until a successor would be named. Since
my resignation was submitted a year before the lawsuits naming the Diocese
of Jackson and its leadership were filed in June and July 2002, the implication
that the lawsuits influenced the submission of my resignation is erroneous
and false.
I was appointed President of the Catholic Church Extension Society in
September 2001 and will soon move to Chicago to fill this responsibility
full-time. However, for the present the priest-consultors of the Diocese
of Jackson have unanimously elected me to administer the diocese until
the arrival of the new bishop on March 7, 2003.
I am aware, as with many in the Church, of the gravity and circumstance
of the problems arising from sexual abuse. Diocesan policy was adopted
in 1987 to address this situation with particular concern for those who
were victims. These policies were further developed and strengthened
in January 1994. For victims and all who suffer as a result of this grave
situation, I offer my continued pastoral support, prayers and ongoing
compassion.
Most Reverend William R. Houck
Diocesan Administrator
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