DEZ, JEAN. - Jesuit theologian and apologist, b. at Ste-Manehould (Marne) on 3 Apr. 1643, d. at Strasbourg on 12 Sept. 1712. He was one of the forerunners of the movement for the union of the churches, especially of Lutheran Protestants with Catholics.
For this purpose he wrote the pamphlet Articuli irenici (Strasbourg 1685), which was opposed by Protestants and placed on the Index (decree of 30 Aug. 1685). The work La réunion des protestants de Strasbourg à l'Église Romaine également nécessaire pour leur salut et facile selon leur principes (Strasbourg 1687), on the other hand, met with Roman approval, went through many editions, and was translated into German.
D., who in the Order was rector and provincial of Champagne (1691–94), of Belgium (1695–99), and again of Champagne (1708–11), exercised great influence and also delivered numerous sermons from the pulpit to promote understanding among the members of the various confessions. He left a great many works, the most important of which appeared posthumously: La foi des chrétiens et des catholiques justifiée contre les désistes, les juifs, les mahométans, les sociétes et les autres hérétiques, Strasbourg 1714.