Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Immensee (Fides Service )- Swiss Missionary Fr Michael Traber, of the Mission Bethléem Immensee (SMB), a missionary institute based at Immensee in Switzerland has died at the age of 77. The missionary was known for his commitment to promoting respect for human rights and evangelisation through social communications.
Born in Zurich in 1929 Michael Traber studied philosophy and theology in Lucerne and Communications at Fordham Jesuit University in New York. Ordained a priest in 1956 after some time on mission in Asia he was sent to Rhodesia (today Zimbabwe) ruled by an apartheid regime. Fr. Traber became immediately known for initiatives of peaceful opposition to racial discrimination. In 1974 the racist government of Ian Smith expelled the priest for “subversive activity”. In Rhodesia Fr. Traber ran a Christian printing press Mambo Press and a Catholic daily Moto.
After being expelled from Rhodesia Fr. Traber taught journalism in Kitwe, Zambia and reported from various countries: Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. Later he worked for the World Association of Christian Communication and taught Communications Science United Theological College in Bangalore, India and ethics at the Gregorian University in Rome. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 29/3/2006 righe 23 parole 222)
