DEZ, JEAN. - Jesuit theologian and apologist, born at Ste-Manehould (Marne) on 3 April 1643, died at Strasbourg on 12 September 1712. He was one of the forerunners of the movement for the union of the churches, especially of Lutheran Protestants with Catholics.
To this end he wrote the pamphlet *Articuli irenici* (Strasbourg 1685), which was attacked by Protestants and placed on the Index (decree of 30 August 1685). The work *La réunion des protestants de Strasbourg à l'Eglise Romaine également nécessaire pour leur salut et facile selon leur principe* (Strasbourg 1687), on the other hand, met with Roman approval, went through many editions, and was translated into German. Dez, who in his Order served as rector and provincial of Champagne (1691–94), of Belgium (1695–99), and again of Champagne (1708–11), exercised great influence and delivered numerous pulpit conferences to promote understanding among 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 déistes, les juifs, les mahométans, les sociniens et les autres hérétiques* (Strasbourg 1714).