The Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, has issued an edict concerning a possible cause for the canonisation of a father who died saving his son after he fell into a septic tank, seeking information about his life as well as any writings that have not been turned over to the diocese.

“We see in the life and death of Thomas Vander Woude a sincere response to the Christian call to sainthood,” Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Arlington said in a Thursday, September 10, press release announcing the edict.