Pusztaegres, Kingdom of Hungary, currently Sárbogárd, Hungary — July 30, 1921
Death data:
Bronx, New York, NY, USA — April 3, 2024
Denomination:
Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical status:
religious
Diocese / Order:
jezsuita (Societas Jesu)
Ordination level:
priest
Entry into religious life:
August 14, 1943
Priestly ordination:
Leuven, Belgium — August 15, 1951
Biographical data
As a seminarian of the Diocese of Székesfehérvár, he entered the Society of Jesus on August 14, 1943. He completed his novitiate in Manréza, then began studying philosophy in Szeged, but left for abroad in 1946, so he completed his studies in Rome in 1948. He studied theology in Leuven from 1950 to 1952. He was ordained a priest on August 15, 1951. From 1955 to 1957, he studied canon law in Rome and earned his doctorate at the Pontifical Gregorian University. From 1958 to 1960, he studied civil law at Oxford, serving as a spiritual director during that time. He followed the events of the Second Vatican Council up close, as he served as theological advisor to Archbishop Francis William Markall of Salisbury (Rhodesia), who was participating in the council. His work as a teacher, writer, and pastor centered on introducing and deepening an understanding of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council—from both a theological and a canon law perspective. In his books and studies, he sought answers to the challenges facing the post-conciliar Church. Upon his retirement, he donated his personal library—which spanned all fields of theology and consisted mostly of English-language works—to the Sapientia Monastic College of Theology.
Foreign service locations
From
To
Place
Current name, country
Church / institution
Position
1950
1952
Leuven, Belgium
theological studies
1953
Saint Asaph, United Kingdom
tercia
1954
London, United Kingdom
pastor
1954
1957
Róma, Italy
Pápai Gergely Egyetem
Studies in Canon Law
1957
1960
Oxford, United Kingdom
Master’s Program in Civil Law
1961
1966
Róma, Italy
Pápai Gergely Egyetem
professor of canon law and spiritual director of the English College
1967
Washington DC, USA
Catholic University of America
professor of canon law
1968
1973
New York, NY, USA
Fordham University
professor of canon law
1974
1993
Washington DC, USA
Georgetown Egyetem
professor of canon law
1993
2020
Washington DC, USA
Georgetown Egyetem
professor emeritus, visiting lecturer
2020
Baltimore, MD, USA
Colombiere Jezsuita Közösség
retired
2021
2024
Bronx, New York, NY, USA
Murray-Weigel Hall
retired
Literary activity
The Difference between the Order of Episcopate and the Order of Presbyterate in Gratian’s Decree. Róma, 1962; The Complex Problem of Mixed Marriages Burne and Oates. London, 1963; A lélek befogadásra készen. A szerzetesi élet a II. vatikáni zsinat után. Kézirat; Open the Spirit. Religious Life after Vatican II. Washington–Cleveland–London, 1968; Aperti allo spirito: Vita religiosa dopo il Concilio Vaticano II. Milánó, 1969; The Case for Freedom: Human Rights in the Church. Washington–Cleveland, 1969; The Lord of Confusion. Denville, NJ, 1970; Úttalan utak ura. Eisenstadt, 1971, 2. kiadás Kecskemét, 1997; Some Questions about the Purpose and Scope of the General Congregation. St. Louis, Miss., 1972; Probing in the Spirit. Washington, 1976; Blessed are those who have Questions. Denville, NJ, 1976; Boldogok a keresők. Eisenstadt, 1976; Egyházjog és teológia. Róma, 1977 (Teológiai Kiskönyvtár, III/4); From Vision to Legislation. From the Council to a Code of Laws. Milwaukee, 1985; The Evolving Church and the Sacrament of Penance. Denville, NJ, 1978; Open to the spirit. Washington–Cleveland, 1988; Marriage in Canon Law. Texts and Comments, Reflections and Questions. Wilmington, 1988; The Profession of Faith and the Oath of Fidelity. A Theological and Canonical Analysis. Wilmington, 1990; Theology and Canon Law. New Horizonts for Legislation and Interpretation. Collegeville, Minne., 1992; A Lélekre nyitottan. Szerzetesélet a II. Vatikáni zsinat után. Bp., 1997; Receiving the Council. Theological and Canonical Insights and Debates. Collegeville, 2009.
Őrsy László SJ, Dr.: personal record. In: Historical directory of Hungarian, Hungarian-descended, and Hungarian-speaking clergy serving abroad. Available at: https://www.diaszporalelkipasztorok.hu/persons_v2/view.php?id=844 (accessed: 2026-07-07).
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