Ralph M. McInerny (February 24, 1929–January 29, 2010) was an American Catholic religious scholar and fiction writer, including mysteries and science fiction. As a mystery writer he is best known as the creator of the Andrew Broome series and the popular Father Dowling mysteries, which were adapted for television. He served as a professor of Philosophy, director of the Jacques Maritain Center, and Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Notre Dame until his retirement in June 2009.