Leading liberal Roman-Catholic priest Father Tischner has died of cancer

One of the greatest twentieth-century Polish philosophers Father Jozef Tischner died yesterday in hospital in Krakow after struggling for three years with cancer of the larynx. Tischner, a very controversial figure, was famous for his critical approach toward Polish people and the church in the "freedom era" and will be remembered not only as a great thinker but also as a phenomenologist, writer, and speaker. He dedicated the last ten years of his life to encouraging co-operation between the church and democratic institutions, and was often the target of criticism from both society and church officials. "The teacher of solidarity ethics" was also known as a great analyst of "homo Sovieticus' behavior" in society. He was 69. (Rzeczpospolita, page 1; Gazeta Wyborcza, page1, Zycie, page 1) Reuters) J.K.