Frederick S. Carney

Carney, Frederick S. Frederick S. Carney, devoted husband and father, and longtime professor at the Perkins School of Theology at SMU, died Jan. 15 in Dallas. He was 84. He taught moral theology and Christian ethics, published numerous papers and lectured around the world. He co-founded the Journal of Religious Ethics and spent much of his later career finding the common threads in Christian, Judaic and Islamic ethics. His 1964 translation of the main work of Calvinist philosopher Johannes Althusius remains widely used by scholars today. In the 1960s, he took part in civil rights marches and fought segregation. He received widespread attention from an opinion column he wrote after the Kennedy assassination that was deeply critical of Dallas' conservative politics. Born in New Jersey on April 1, 1924, he graduated from Ursinus College, where he had been preparing to become a Navy chaplain during World War II. After the war, he continued his studies at Northwestern University, and The University of Chicago, where he earned a Ph.D in 1960. He was a member of the Highland Park United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Kim, a retired economics professor at UT Arlington, three sons, Peter, David and Daniel, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren. A fourth son, Paul, died in 1987. Services will be held Friday Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. at Perkins Chapel on the SMU campus. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to the Perkins School of Theology.