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

  • New Book Contracted with the University of California Press

    I’m excited to announce that my book on ordinary Americans’ abortion attitudes — based on a groundbreaking in-depth interview study — is now contracted with the University of California Press! I will post updates here as the book moves through… Continue reading

  • “This Kind and That Kind of Catholic”…New Essay in Georgetown University’s Berkley Forum

    The latest essay forum hosted by Georgetown University’s Berkley Center invited contributors to reflect on President Joe Biden and Catholicism in U.S. Politics. What are some of the biggest challenges and opportunities for Catholic engagement in American domestic and foreign… Continue reading

  • Fordham University Webinar on the American Abortion Debate

    “Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Post-Roe? New Prospects for the Abortion Debate in America” If you missed the Fordham University Webinar hosted by the Center on Religion and Culture that I participated in alongside Katelyn Beaty, Mary Ziegler, Gloria Purvis, and host/Center Director… Continue reading

  • Guest Appearance on America Trends Podcast

    My appearance on America Trends Podcast is now live! Listen here or download from your favorite podcast player. Thanks to Larry Rifkin for the invitation to engage the topic of abortion attitudes on the eve of the 48th anniversary of… Continue reading

  • Pro-life. Pro-Choice. Post Roe? (Webinar)

    All are welcome to join this webinar discussion sponsored by Fordham University’s Center for Religion and Culture! I look forward to participating. Find details and RSVP info below. New prospects for the abortion debate in AmericaA Fordham Center on Religion… Continue reading

  • Where Catholicism Lives

    Kudos to organizers at the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University (Durham, England) for putting together a lively virtual conference around the theme of Lived Catholicism. I was honored to give a keynote address entitled “Where Catholicism Lives” alongside… Continue reading

    Where Catholicism Lives

  • Voting Catholic

    America Magazine put together a compelling set of podcasts in the lead-up to the Fall 2020 Election, considering multiple angles of issues that many Catholics weigh as they head to the ballot box. I’m grateful for the invitation to participate… Continue reading

  • What Americans Really Think About Abortion (WSJ)

    My new essay in the Wall Street Journal (page C3 in the September 26-27 issue) brings attention to what we learned from interviewing hundreds of Americans in-depth regarding how they think and feel about abortion. A big takeaway? Americans’ views… Continue reading

  • Media Coverage of “How Americans Understand Abortion”

    My report on American’ Abortion Attitudes – a study and publication of the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life – has received wide attention in media sources. I am thankful for reporters who have engaged with its… Continue reading

  • How Americans Understand Abortion

    We may think we already know the answer to this question, but common perceptions don’t map well on to what I learned from interviewing 217 ordinary Americans about abortion. For one, abortion discussions are uncommon or nonexistent in everyday life.… Continue reading

engaging A Sociological Perspective

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