Bryan Massingale

Bryan N. Massingale is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.  He completed his formal education in Rome at the pontifical institute for moral theology, earning the degree, Doctor of Moral Theology, "summa cum laude."

He is the James and Nancy Buckman Professor of Theological and Social Ethics at Fordham University and a Senior Fellow in its Center for Ethics Education.  An award-winning scholar, teacher, and activist, he is a leader in Catholic theology.  He is a former President of the Society of Christian Ethics and of the Catholic Theological Society of America, and a former Convener of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium.

Dr. Massingale has authored two books and more than 200 articles, book chapters, and book reviews.  His monograph entitled, Racial Justice and the Catholic Church, received a First Place Book Award from the Catholic Press Association of the U.S. and Canada.  He is a co-editor of a volume of essays, All of Us: A New Agenda for Catholic Theology from Queer Catholics of Color (Fortress Press, 2024).  He also authored a major document for Catholic Charities USA, entitled, “Poverty and Racism: Overlapping Threats to the Common Good.” He is an award-winning contributor to major Catholic thought vehicles such as US Catholic, Commonweal, America Magazine, The Tablet, and The National Catholic Reporter. As a public intellectual, he frequently addresses issues of racial and sexual justice in global venues such as National Public Radio (NPR), ABC News, the PBS NewsHour, BBC World News, The New York Times, the Huff Post, Canadian Public Radio, the South African Times, and the Associated Press. His current writing and research projects explore the contributions of the Black radical imagination to Catholic theology; the challenge of white Christian nationalism; and the intersections of race, sexuality, and faith.

In addition to his academic pursuits, Professor Massingale strives to be a scholar-activist through serving civic and faith-based groups advancing justice in society.  He is a consultant for the U.S. State Department’s Strategic Religious Engagement Unit, providing expertise on international LGBTI advocacy.  He has served as a consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, providing theological assistance on issues such as criminal justice, capital punishment, environmental justice, and affirmative action. He has also been a theological consultant for the National Black Catholic Congress, Catholic Charities USA, the Catholic Health Association, the National Catholic AIDS Network, Catholic Relief Services, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, and the anti-racism teams of Call to Action and Pax Christi USA.  He is a leading voice among Catholics advocating the full inclusion of LGBTQ persons in both society and the faith community.

Dr. Massingale is the recipient of numerous honors and recognitions for his academic scholarship, teaching, and advocacy for justice.  Among these are four honorary doctorates; Marquette University’s highest award for teaching excellence; the prestigious Ketteler Award for Social Justice; Barry University’s Yves Congar Award for Theological Excellence; Pax Christi USA's Teacher of Peace Award; the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s Faith Doing Justice Award “for leadership for social justice grounded in faith”; Dignity USA’s Risk Taker/Justice Maker Award for “advocating for justice for LGBTQI Catholics at great personal risk”; the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests' Pope John XXIII Award for his tireless efforts to create a world where the dignity of each person is respected and protected; Catholic Charities USA's Centennial Gold Medal for leadership and service in the social mission of the Catholic Church; and the Rev. Al McKnight Award from the National Joint Conference of Black Catholic Clergy, Sisters, Deacons, and Seminarians for outstanding witness on behalf of justice for the marginalized.  He has received numerous recognitions from the Catholic Press Association for award-winning commentaries on contemporary social issues from a faith perspective.

S.T.D., Academia Alphonsianum (Rome)

S.T.L., The Catholic University of America

M.Div., Saint Francis Seminary

B.A., Marquette University

Professor Massingale is an expert in Catholic Moral Theology, Catholic Sexual Ethics, African American Religious Ethics, Racial Justice, and Race and Sexuality.

His current research projects explore 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.

Racial Justice and the Catholic Church (Orbis Books, 2010).

"The Twilight of Dissent: Pope Francis and LGBTQ Persons and Morality." In Conor M. Kelly and Kristin E. Heyer (eds.), The Moral Visions of Pope Francis (Georgetown University Press, 2024): 149-165.

“The Assumptions of Whiteness.” In Kim R. Harris and M. Roger Holland (eds.), The Fire This Time: A Black Catholic Sourcebook (GIA Publications, 2023): 273-284. (reprint).

“Liberty and Justice for All.” In Kim R. Harris and M. Roger Holland (eds.), The Fire This Time: A Black Catholic Sourcebook (GIA Publications, 2023): 203-206 (reprint).

“The Rhetoric of Slavery in the Pro-Life Discourse of US Catholic Bishops.” In Rebecca Todd Peters and Margaret D. Kamitsuka (eds.), T&T Clark Reader in Abortion and Religion: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Perspectives (New York: T&T Clark, 2023): 377-383. (reprint)

“Speaking the Truth: The Black Catholic Intellectual Vocation.” In David J. Endres (ed.)  Black Catholic Studies Reader: History and Theology (Washington, DC: The Catholic University of America Press, 2021): 1-17.

“Prevenir contra a Homofobia: Rumo a uma Cultura do Encontro: Uma Reposta de Fe a Homofobia.”  In José Antonio Trasferetti, Mario Marcelo Coelho, and Ronaldo Zacharias (eds.), Theologia da Prevencao: Por um Caminho de Humanizacao (Sao Paulo, Brazil: Paulus, 2021): 321-357. (“Toward a Culture of Encounter: A Faith-Response to Homophobia.”)

“Toward a Spirituality for Racial Justice: The Transformation of Consciousness and the 'Souls of White Folks'.” In Laurie Cassidy and M. Shawn Copeland (eds.), Desire, Darkness, and Hope: Theology in a Time of Impasse (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2021): 325-345.

“A New Vision of Fraternal Society and the Challenge of Racism.” Culture e Fide (Cultures and Faith) 29:1 (2021): 37-43.

“The Welcome Table: The Table Fellowship of Jesus and Its Implications for Racial Justice.” In Michael B. Cover, John Theide, and Joshua Ezra Burns (eds.), Bridging Scripture and Moral Theology (Lexington Books/Rowman Press, 2019): 23-38.

“Race and Reconciliation.” In Dwight N. Hopkins (ed.), Looking Back, Moving Forward: Wisdom from the Sankofa Institute for African American Pastoral Leadership (Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 2018): 133-160.

“The Dark Night(s) of Malcolm X: Apophatic Mysticism and African American Spirituality.”  In Robert J. Rivera and Michele Saracino (eds.), Enfleshing Theology: Embodiment, Discipleship, and Politics in the Work of M. Shawn Copeland (New York: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2018): 215-231.

“The Erotics of Anti-Blackness: Police Sexual Violation of Black Bodies.” In Vincent W. Lloyd and Andrew Prevot (eds.), Antiblackness in Christian Ethics (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2017): 173-194.

“Beyond 'Authentically Black and Truly Catholic': Black Catholic Identity for a New Time.” Journal of the Black Catholic Symposium 10 (2017): 41-61.

“Supremacía blanca, la elección de Donald Trump y el desafío a la teología.” Concilium 2017/3 (June 2017): 75-84.  Also published in Italian, “La supremazia bianca, l'elezione di Donald Trump e le sfide per la teologia.” Concilium 53 (2017/3): 86-96. English: “White Supremacy, the Election of Donald Trump and the Challenge to Theology.” Concilium (2017/3): 65-73.

“The Inspiring and Challenging Legacy of Cyprian Davis.” Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium 9 (2016): 11-21.

“Theology in the Public Square in the 21^st Century.” Horizons: Journal of the College Theology Society 43 (December 2016): 351-356.

“Beyond 'Who Am I to Judge?' The Sensus Fidelium, LGBT Experience, and Truth-Telling in the Church,” in Learning from All the Faithful: a contemporary theology of the sensus fidei, Bradford E. Hinze and Peter C. Phan (eds.), (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2016): 170-183.

“Conscience Formation and the Challenge of Unconscious Racial Bias,” in David E. DeCosse and Kristin E. Heyer (eds.), Conscience and Catholicism (Orbis Books, 2015): 53-68.

“Toward a Catholic Malcolm X?” American Catholic Studies 125:3 (Fall 2014): 8-11.

“Has the Silence Been Broken? Catholic Theological Ethics and Racial Justice.” Theological Studies 75:1 (March 2014): 133-155.

“The Hidden Faces of Racism: Catholics Should Stand Firm on Affirmative Action.” In Romero's Legacy 2. Pilar Hogan Closkey, Kevin Moran, John P. Horgan, eds.  (Washington, DC: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, 2014): 27-36.

“The Experience of a Pastoral Advocate: Ecclesial Implications.” In More than a Monologue: Voices of Sexual Diversity in Catholicism. Christine Hinze and J. Patrick Hornbeck, eds. (New York, NY: Fordham University Press, 2013): 91-95.

“The Challenge of Idolatry and Ecclesial Identity.” Ecclesiology and Exclusion: Boundaries of Being and Exclusion in Postmodern Times. Dennis Doyle, et. al., eds. (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2012): 130-136.

“A Parallel That Limps: The Rhetoric of Slavery in the Pro-Life Discourse of U.S. Bishops.”  In Nicholas P. Cafardi, ed., Voting and Holiness: Catholic Perspectives on Political Participation (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2012): 158-177.

“Malcolm X and the Limits of 'Authentically Black and Truly Catholic'.” Journal of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium 5 (2011): 7-25.

“The Systemic Erasure of the Black/Dark-Skinned Body in Catholic Ethics.” In James F. Keenan, ed., Catholic Theological Ethics Past, Present, and Future: The Trento Conference (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2011): 116-124.

“Vox Victimarum Vox Dei: Malcolm X as Neglected 'Classic' for Catholic Theological Reflection.”  Presidential Address, CTSA Proceedings 65 (2010): 63-88.

“As Election Cycle Cranks Up, Christians Need to Call Out white Christian Nationalism.” Religion News Service (June 27, 2023). (with Kelly Brown Douglas). https://religionnews.com/2023/06/27/as-the-election-cycle-cranks-up-christians-need-to-call-out-white-christian-nationalism/

“The Black Exodus.” U.S. Catholic 86:6 (June 2021): 40-41.  Online: “Black Catholics Are Leaving the Church.  Why?”  U.S. Catholic (June 1, 2021): https://uscatholic.org/articles/202106/black-catholics-are-leaving-the-church-why/

“A Year after the Murder of George Floyd, What Has Changed?” America Magazine (May 25, 2021): https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2021/05/25/george-floyd-bryan-massingale-anniversary-240744

“The Chauvin Verdict: Relief, Vindication but Not Celebration.” National Catholic Reporter (April 22, 2021): https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/chauvin-verdict-relief-vindication-not-celebration

“How to Make Spiritual Sense of the Attack on the Capitol.” America Media (January 7, 2021): https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2021/01/07/capitol-attack-racial-justice-bryan-massingale-239667

“The Racist Attack on Our Nation's Capitol,” America (January 6, 2021): https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2021/01/06/us-capitol-trump-riot-racist-239662

“On Black Love: Antiblackness and Christian Ethics,” Political Theology Network (June 16, 2020): https://politicaltheology.com/anti-blackness-and-christian-ethics/

“Harriet Tubman, Pride, and Black Lives Matter: How Far We've Come, How Far We Have to Go,” New Ways Ministry Blog (June 14, 2020): https://www.newwaysministry.org/2020/06/14/harriet-tubman-pride-and-black-lives-matter-how-far-weve-come-how-far-we-have-to-go/

“The Only Thing That Matters: America's Commitment to White Supremacy,” The Tablet (6 June 2020): 12-13.

“The Assumptions of White Privilege: Amy Cooper Knew Exactly What She Was Doing.  We All Do.  And That's the Problem,” National Catholic Reporter (June 1, 2020): https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/assumptions-white-privilege-and-what-we-can-do-about-it