Jack Downey

John Henry Newman Professor of Roman Catholic Studies, Professor of Religion and Classics University of Rochester

Rochester NY

Downey studies self-immolation as reistance, forms of protest, Roman Catholicism

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Spotlight

May 8, 2025

1 min

Covering the Conclave? Our Expert Can Help.

The world is watching the Vatican as cardinals from across the globe gather for the papal conclave. The monumental event, which involves cardinals closing themselves off in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope, is steeped in history, mystery, and speculation. The new pontiff will be expected to make difficult decisions about the future direction of the Catholic church, which has almost 1.4 billion followers worldwide, and address the Vatican's strained finances and its sexual abuse scandals. If you're a reporter looking for an expert who can provide valuable insight, perspective and opinion on any angle of the events unfolding in Vatican City, consider reaching out to Jack Downey, the John Henry Newman Professor of Roman Catholic Studies at the University of Rochester. Downey and his scholarship have been featured in media outlets such as The Washington Post, National Public Radio, and Time Magazine. Simply click on his icon now to arrange an interview today.

Areas of Expertise

Civil Disobedience

Social Justice

Christianity

Roman Catholicism

self-immolation

Catholic Church

Catholics

Protest Movements

North American religious history

Media

Social

Biography

Jack Downey teaches courses on contemporary justice movements, liberation theologies, North American religious history, Christianity, Buddhism, and contemplative traditions. Dr. Downey arrived at the University of Rochester from Philadelphia, where he was Associate Professor of Religion and Theology at La Salle University. He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Theology at Fordham University, and is the author of The Bread of the Strong, a study of contemplative influences on Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker movement. His current research projects examine self-immolation, forms of protest, violence, Roman Catholicism in Alaska and Québec, and asceticism.

Education

Fordham University

PhD

2012

Selected Media Appearances

Rochester scholars, faithful look ahead with new pope selection

Democrat & Chronicle print

2025-05-09

Leo's "predeceasing namesake, Leo XIII famously authored the encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891), which is a bedrock text of Catholic social teaching, focusing on the dignity of working people in the face of industrial-era exploitation," Downey said in his email. "So, for those hoping for a 'social justice' pope, in the spirit of Francis, Robert Prevost should be a welcome relief during this political moment."

Native American children endured years of sexual abuse at boarding schools

Washington Post print

2024-05-30

Two researchers, Jack Downey of the University of Rochester and Kathleen Holscher of the University of New Mexico, later used that list and other Jesuit lists to map the priests’ assignments. They found 47 priests accused of abuse who had been assigned to Catholic missions in Native American communities. The Post’s investigation, which reviewed their data and other records, identified the boarding schools where those priests worked and found 75 additional abusers.

Why self-immolation has been used by political protesters for decades

NPR radio

2024-02-27

Jack Downey, a professor of religious studies at the University of Rochester who researches self-immolation protests, says there has always been a question about whether self-immolation is such an extreme form of protest that it distracts from the protest's message.

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