Fordham University welcomed Father Thomas Massaro, S.J., to the Laurence J. McGinley Chair in Religion and Society position through an installation ceremony at Keating Hall on Wednesday, April 9. Massaro gave an inaugural lecture titled “American Exceptionalism: Catholic Perspectives on a Troublesome Notion.”
The lecture explored the concept of American exceptionalism, which the Encyclopedia Britannica defines as the “idea that the United States of America is a unique and even morally superior country for historical, ideological, or religious reasons.”
In a time when many Americans continuously debate American values and identity, American exceptionalism is on many scholars’ minds. Massaro, a Jesuit priest and scholar of Catholic social teaching, offered a religiously grounded approach to the topic. Jesuits — members of the Society of Jesus — take four vows: poverty, chastity, obedience and another vow of obedience dedicated explicitly to worldwide mission as dictated by the Pope.
“As a person for whom religious faith and patriotism are both very important (even self-defining), I am eager to ‘get it right’ when considering how faith and patriotism intersect. I have long been aware that an exaggerated version of patriotism easily becomes chauvinistic and puts down people of other nationalities,” Massaro said. “How to avoid falling into that error while maintaining an appropriate view of the possibilities for the USA to serve all members of the family of nations — that is the central challenge.”
Jack Martens, FCRH ’27, who attended the event, said the lecture helped him connect Catholic social thought with Fordham’s broader role in society as a leading Jesuit university.
“As a Catholic and philosophy major, the topic of a Catholic perspective on American exceptionalism interested me. I was hoping to gain some insight into Fordham’s role in its local, national, and international communities as a Catholic and American institution going forward, and Fr. Massaro certainly delivered,” Martens said. “Fr. Massaro spoke well and clearly held a lot of respect for his audience and position.”
Even in the harsh realities of polarization, Martens especially connected with Massaro’s points on the perseverance of American ideals regarding upward mobility, equal opportunity and individual rights.
“It pointed out simultaneously an enduring American spirit and a fault of systemic reality,” said Martens. This dichotomy came up time and again throughout Fr. Massaro’s lecture as he discussed John Winthrop’s 1630 sermon, as well as the opposing realist and ideality perspectives of the 20th century.”
The sermon in reference is entitled A Model of Christian Charity, delivered by John Winthrop, an English Puritan lawyer and former Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, as a message to fellow colonists during their voyage from England to the New World. In this sermon, Winthrop described an idealistic new society, declaring that they would be a “city upon a hill,” taking inspiration from the Bible verse Matthew 5:14, which proclaims, “a city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Massaro strongly critiqued this notion, emphasizing the dangers of interpreting the “city upon a hill” as a sign of moral superiority rather than a call to service and justice.
Instead of focusing on solutions, Massaro claimed his lecture “did not provide very many answers for how to put together all the pieces of this puzzle of how to proceed into the future, with just the right balance in our national policies and expectations.”
Another student in attendance, Zander Flint, FCRH ’26, said, “Coming from a more conservative perspective, I felt that Fr. Massaro’s lecture didn’t address any possible conservative approaches or responses to his arguments. His dichotomy of idealists versus realists felt the same as leftist versus moderate. I found myself wondering what he believes the purpose of a nation is, how [a] nation should be defined, and whether or not nations should even exist or not.”
Massaro said the lack of answers is actually by design.
“Just as college professors should never aspire to brainwash students in any way, a responsible lecturer will lay out arguments and ideas and allow each audience member to consider their own personal synthesis and resolution of the many issues presented,” said Massaro. “If that sounds too modest a goal, so be it,” he added. “I simply desired to invite each listener into an ongoing dialogue with values and virtues that could shape a better future for our nation and our world, especially considering the important role of the USA in the world community.”
In his role as McGinley chair, Massaro is expected to host many more lectures over his tenure.
“It would be unrealistic to expect any one person to reshape the entire landscape of discourse at Fordham, or on any campus or community,” said Massaro. “[I] hope to contribute to the broadening of dialogue around public issues that touch all of us in our city and nation.”
