Father Bryan Massingale speaks during Naz Weekend on “Racial Solidarity, Catholic Identity, and the Challenge of White Christian Nationalism”
Nazareth University welcomes Father Bryan Massingale, a scholar and priest known nationally and internationally for his academic scholarship, purpose-driven teaching, and advocacy for justice. A Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, he is the James and Nancy Buckman Professor of Theological and Social Ethics at Fordham University, and senior fellow in its Center for Ethics Education. He will address “Racial Solidarity, Catholic Identity, and the Challenge of White Christian Nationalism” at Nazareth on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Linehan Chapel of Golisano Academic Center.
Massingale will speak to the polarization and injustices associated with the ideology of Christian nationalism, a belief system that denies the equal dignity of all. Such a view is in direct opposition to the fundamental principle of Catholic Social Teaching - the human dignity of every person.
His talk is the first of the 2026-27 Shannon Lecture Series, and it takes place during the University’s Naz Weekend (Sept. 18-20) for alumni, current students, families, faculty, and staff. Massingale’s talk is free and open to the public. Father Massingale will also preside at the 5 p.m. Mass in Linehan Chapel immediately following his presentation.
A leader in Catholic theology, Massingale has served as president of the Society of Christian Ethics, president of the Catholic Theological Society of America, and convener of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium. In 2025, he received the “Blessed Are the Peacemakers” Award from the Catholic Theological Union for his pioneering advocacy for racial and sexual justice. Most recently, he received one of the highest honors in Catholic scholarship, the John Courtney Murray Award, from the Catholic Theological Society of America “for outstanding and distinguished achievement in Theology.”He holds a Doctorate of Sacred Theology.
Massingale brings his passion for social ethics into the classroom, teaching courses on Catholic social thought, African American religious ethics, sexual ethics, and racial justice. He focuses on the impact of religious faith as both an instrument of social injustice and a catalyst for social transformation. Convinced that Catholic social ethics are enhanced by a Black perspective, he explores the contribution of the Black radical imagination to Catholic theology; the challenge of White Christian nationalism; and the intersections of race, sexuality, and faith in both social life and Catholicism. A leading voice among Catholics advocating the full equality of LGBTQ persons in both society and faith communities, he serves civic and faith-based groups advancing justice in society.
The 2026-27 Shannon Lecture Series theme is Centering Human Dignity, Harnessing the Forces of Love and Justice based on Pope Leo’s Magnifica Humanitas. For fall 2026, distinguished scholars will wrestle with critical questions emerging from behaviors and attitudes that dehumanize individuals and groups — racism and xenophobia, white supremacy and Christian nationalism, and exploitation of vulnerable peoples.
Contact
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
Father Bryan Massingale speaks at Nazareth on Sept. 19.