Retired Bishop Houck of Jackson diocese dies at 89

JACKSON -- A retired Roman Catholic bishop in Jackson has died.

Bishop William Houck died early Wednesday at St. Dominic's Hospital of complications following heart surgery, said Bishop Joseph Kopacz of the Jackson diocese.

Houck, 89, led the diocese, which comprised 65 counties in central and northern Mississippi from 1984 to 2003.

Kopacz announced Houck's death in a statement on the diocese website.

"It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I announce the death of our beloved former bishop, Bishop Emeritus William R. Houck, who led our diocese from June 5, 1984, to Jan. 3, 2003," the statement said. "Bishop Houck recently underwent a single bypass for blockage in a main artery. He was recovering but took a turn for the worse last night. God called him home at around 1 a.m. He was 89 years old.

"We rejoice in the confident knowledge that he is at peace."

A native of Mobile, Houck was ordained there in 1951 and served in Alabama before being ordained an auxiliary bishop of Jackson in 1979 under Bishop Joseph Brunini. He was one of 27 bishops ordained by Pope John Paul II in a ceremony that lasted four hours.

He was installed as the ninth bishop of the diocese in 1984 following Brunini's retirement.

As bishop, Houck supported improved children's services, evangelization efforts and a new state flag. He opposed the death penalty.

His tenure was marred by lawsuits against the diocese over sexual abuse by priests.

Houck led the Chicago-based Catholic Extension Society from 2001 to 2007. The group supports missions in American regions with few Catholics.

According to the diocese website, Houck marked 25 years as a bishop in 2004 and 60 years as a priest in 2011. He remained active in the church ministry up to his last days.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 11:00 PM with the headline "Retired Bishop Houck of Jackson diocese dies at 89 ."