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 six-time marathoner. She has served 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

June 27, 2022

How do Americans perceive adoption?

The Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization raises important questions regarding policy in the context of abortion restrictions. Interviewing hundreds of Americans about abortion, we heard many allude to adoption as an alternative — lauding adoption… Continue reading
June 21, 2022

Guest Appearance on Jesuitical

Thanks to the hosts and producers of the America Magazine podcast, Jesuitical, for inviting me on to talk through how Americans — and Catholics, in particular — think about abortion. It’s a timely conversation in light of the pending decision… Continue reading
May 10, 2022

My article in Time Magazine

I’m excited to share my new article out in Time Magazine! I share some takeaways from the National Abortion Attitudes Study (NAAS) in light of the Supreme Court leak — namely, that the pending ruling’s implications remain unclear amid the… Continue reading
May 7, 2022

Guest Appearance on Interfaith Voices

I enjoyed the invitation to talk through what’s often missed in summaries of Americans’ abortion attitudes on the latest episode of the radio show, Interfaith Voices. Check out the full episode, “Abortion is the Story,” with the insightful host Ambereen… Continue reading
May 6, 2022

Collaborative Op-Ed in today’s LA Times

I joined Notre Dame faculty members Tamara Kay and Susan Ostermann in this piece for the LA Times, published today. It references Americans my team interviewed for the National Abortion Attitudes Study who — even amid opposition to abortion —… Continue reading
May 3, 2022

New article in The Conversation (picked up by Philadelphia Inquirer, Christian Ethics Today, more)

My new article in The Conversation draws from collaborative work with Sarah Cowan, Brea Perry, Bridget Ritz, Stuart Perrett, and Elizabeth Anderson in Science Advances. Using interview data from the National Abortion Attitudes Study, I explore what’s behind the willingness… Continue reading
March 1, 2022

New article out in Science Advances — Discordant Benevolence: How and why people help others in the face of conflicting values

I’m excited to have a new article out in Science Advances with a stellar group of collaborators: Sarah K. Cowan, Brea L. Perry, Bridget Ritz, Stuart Perrett, and Elizabeth M. Anderson. In it, we explore the phenomenon of “discordant benevolence,”… Continue reading
December 7, 2021

Panel: Whatever Happened to the Common Good?

I’m excited to participate in an online dialogue featuring Matthew Dowd (chief strategist for the the 2004 Bush campaign and an ABC News political analyst, author, candidate for lieutenant governor of Texas), Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) (longest-serving woman in the… Continue reading
September 22, 2021

New Report on Catholic Women and the Diaconate

I’m thrilled to share a new report summarizing findings from an in-depth interview study I conducted on Catholic women and the diaconate: Called to Contribute. Together with my research team (Cella Masso-Rivetti of New York University and Jennifer Sherman of… Continue reading
August 15, 2021

Election as Chair of the ASA Religion Section

I’m honored by my election to serve as Chair of the Religion Section for the American Sociological Association! This group has been such a valuable part of my own development and engagement as a sociologist of religion. Its work is… Continue reading

engaging A Sociological Perspective

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