Tricia C. Bruce, PhD

Sociologist. Author. Researcher. Speaker.

Tricia C. Bruce, PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow with the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, a 2025-2026 Affiliate of the Center for the Study of Religion & Society at the University of Notre Dame, President-Elect of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion, and a five-time marathoner. She served previously as President of the Association for the Sociology of Religion, a papal-appointed consultor to the Synod on Synodality, and a tenured professor. She is the author of numerous award-winning books, articles, and reports in the sociology of religion and U.S. Catholicism.

Happenings

  • Catholic Connections

    PEW’s new data on Catholics is helping us to better understand the U.S. Church, in anticipation of Pope Francis’ first visit to America. Here, I breakdown the study and my own role in it for Knoxville’s NBC affiliate, WBIR: http://t.co/tdpWGkSt8j Continue reading

  • Nearly half of Americans are connected to Catholicism in some way

    PEW just released a groundbreaking study of contemporary U.S. Catholics. Having participated in conversations from the shaping to analysis stages of this study as a part of the advisory panel, I’m happy to see the full report now available as a tool… Continue reading

  • Target & Gender

    Target’s efforts to de-gender their toy and bedding aisles received ample attention nationally. Three stations invited me to offer a sociological perspective on the move. Target to move away from gender-based signs WATE-Knoxville – 8/12/2015 http://wate.com/2015/08/10/target-to-move-away-from-gender-based-signs/ Gender-neutral labeling WBIR-Knoxville –… Continue reading

  • Update on Research – Asian & Pacific Islander Catholics in the U.S.

    We (myself, Dr. Jerry Park, and Dr. Stephen Cherry) recently submitted a draft report of findings from our year-long, multi-pronged, national study of Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics in the United States to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’… Continue reading

  • Diapers, Dads, & Social Change

    Changing stations (and their absence) in mens’ restrooms speak volumes about men’s and women’s perceived roles in family & society. I sat down with Knoxville’s WBIR station to talk through what this means: http://www.wbir.com/media/cinematic/video/24929293/getting-dad-more-involved/ Continue reading

  • Vatican II at Fifty

    Join the conversation at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus for a look back and a look ahead, as we mark the fiftieth anniversary of Vatican II. Our Inheritance: Vatican II at 50 The Post-Conciliar Generation Looks at the Next Half… Continue reading

  • National Study of Asian & Pacific Islander American Catholics Featured on Cover of Our Sunday Visitor Newsweekly 

    The current issue of Our Sunday Visitor features timely and comprehensive coverage of important work that myself and Drs. Jerry Park & Stephen Cherry are leading for the U.S. Bishops. Read the full story here: https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/Article/TabId/535/ArtMID/13567/ArticleID/16750/USCCB-assessing-Asian-Pacific-Islander-needs.aspx Continue reading

  • National Study of Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics in the United States

    USCCB Secretariat on Cultural Diversity in the Church To Assess the Pastoral Needs of Asian and Pacific Island Catholics in the United States November 20, 2014 WASHINGTON—In the coming months, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Subcommittee on Asian… Continue reading

    National Study of Asian and Pacific Islander Catholics in the United States

  • The Sociology of the Catholic Parish: A Seminar and Call for Papers

    Despite its ubiquity and centrality in American Catholicism, the parish remains understudied by contemporary social scientists. The American Parish Project (TAPP) seeks to bring together scholars whose work intersects with the Catholic parish through diverse themes and methods, advancing a… Continue reading

  • Happy Father’s Day! (& The Changing Role of Dads)

    As we celebrate our fathers on this special day, we can also be mindful of changes and challenges for U.S. families attempting to balance their “home” and “work” roles. WBIR-Knoxville invited me to Live at Five to reflect on recent studies such as those from… Continue reading

engaging A Sociological Perspective

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