John L. McKenzie

Father John L. McKenzie was a prominent Roman Catholic historian and biblical scholar, was considered the dean of Catholic biblical scholars during the 1960s when the Vatican began encouraging more Scripture studies. In 1966 he was the first Catholic priest to be elected president of the large Society of Biblical Literature.

Near the end of the Vietnam War, McKenzie resigned from the Jesuit order and became a diocesan priest because he felt the Jesuits were not taking a strong stand against the U.S. position in Vietnam.

At the height of his academic career, McKenzie taught at Loyola University of Chicago, the University of Chicago, Notre Dame and DePaul University. He authored two dozen books, including the monumental "Dictionary of the Bible," "The Roman Catholic Church" and his last one, published in 1986, "The Civilization of Christianity."

"His 'Dictionary of the Bible' was really a landmark volume for biblical studies for Catholics," said John Sprague, president of the Thomas More Assn. in Chicago, publisher of several other McKenzie books. "For years the Catholic Church kind of rebelled against scientific inquiry into the Bible."

A frequently outspoken critic of ecclesiastical heavy-handedness, McKenzie wrote in his book "Authority in the Church" that the authority of the Roman Catholic Church rests on how it serves people, not on formal structures or governance.

McKenzie retired in Claremont 13 years ago and assisted on the staff of Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Claremont where he is buried.