 A self-described "progressive," Dozier was an early opponent of the Vietnam War and offered support to draft dodgers.He also called for busing to achieve desegregation in public schools, opposed capital punishment, and supported ecumenism and women's rights.In 1970 he celebrated two Masses of Reconciliation at Memphis and Jackson for lapsed Catholics; he gave general absolution to those in attendance, to the dismay of Pope Paul VI and Cardinal James Knox.