WASHINGTON, D.C. - Paulist Father Thomas Stransky, credited internationally as a pioneer in the Catholic Church’s ecumenical and interfaith relations stemming from the Second Vatican Council, died Sept. 3 on his 89th birthday. Those who worked with the visionary priest over the years said his role in overseeing the drafting of three council documents has had a profound effect on the life of the Church for more than half a century.

“He was an agent of history in some ways,” said John Borelli, special assistant to the president for interreligious initiatives at Georgetown University. “He was part of the original staff of the (Vatican) Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity. In many ways, he helped engineer many of the decisions that were made during the council. He played a big role.”

Crux - Father Thomas Stransky had key role in ecumenical, interreligious work