Pope Francis Appoints New Bishop in Jackson Diocese

The Clarion-Ledger
December 12, 2013

http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20131212/NEWS/312120046/Pope-Francis-appoints-new-bishop-Jackson-diocese


The Rev. Joseph Kopacz has been appointed bishop of Diocese of Jackson to succeed Bishop Joseph Latino who reached the age of retirement.

The appointment by Pope Francis was announced Wednesday and was released by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.

Kopacz, 63, will be ordained and installed on Feb. 6 at noon in the Cathedral of Saint Peter the Apostle in Jackson.

Kopacz is a priest of the Diocese of Scranton, Ohio, and was ordained in 1977. He has served the Scranton diocese in many capacities, including as a pastor, formation director, vicar for priests, vicar general and coordinator for Hispanic Ministry.

Latino, 75, was named bishop in 2003 after the resignation of Bishop William R. Houck, who had led the Catholic Diocese of Jackson since 1977 and had reached the age limit of 75 for bishops in the Catholic Church.

While bishop of Jackson, Latino has opposed a proposed state crackdown on illegal immigration and fought against the execution of prisoners. He’s generally supported restrictions on abortion, but he notably did not take a stand on the 2011 Mississippi personhood referendum, which would have defined life as beginning at fertilization. He told his followers to vote their own consciences, writing that the initiative’s “unintended consequences” were “deeply concerning.” The initiative was defeated.

Latino has often lined up with Mississippi’s United Methodist and Episcopal bishops, such as in 2009, when the trio called on lawmakers to support a children’s legislative agenda.

In 2006, the diocese agreed to pay $5.1 million to 19 people who claimed they were molested by priests over three decades. Latino drew fire several years earlier for questioning whether a victims’ support group was harming victims by putting them in the public spotlight.

Kopacz will inherit a diocese that is the largest, by land area, east of the Mississippi River, but one of the smallest in terms of adherents, with 48,000 Catholics. It covers the state’s 65 northernmost counties.

The Diocese of Biloxi covers 17 southern Mississippi counties, from the coast north through Laurel. Though smaller in land area, it has 70,000 Catholics.

Since its founding as the Diocese of Natchez 175 years ago, Mississippi has always been a missionary territory, and fewer than 3 percent of residents of the current diocese are Catholic. With 101 churches, many rural and small, it has struggled to find enough priests.

Latino appointed a number of lay people as ministers in parishes, with the diocese at one point among the top 10 in naming lay ministers.

Latino was serving as a priest in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, La, when he was named bishop in Jackson. He was born in New Orleans and ordained there in 1963.

Kopacz is a native of Dunmore, Pa. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton and his master’s degree in Theology from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, N.Y. He also earned a master’s degree and doctorate from Marywood University.

“This is indeed a joyful day for the Diocese of Jackson. We are very honored that our Holy Father has appointed such a fine priest to serve as our new diocesan bishop,” Latino said in a statement.