Maureen Day

Maureen K. Day

Maureen K. Day is a Research Affiliate at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture as well as the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies, both housed at the University of Southern California. An award-winning author, her most recent books include Catholicism at a Crossroads: The Present and Future of America's Largest Church (NYU Press 2025) and Cultural Catholics: Who They Are, How to Respond (Liturgical Press 2024). You can follow her work at https://www.maureenkday.com.

By this Author

A bilingual voting sign is seen at St. Patrick Church polling station in Norcross, Ga., on Election Day 2020. (OSV News/The Georgia Bulletin/Michael Alexander)

US Catholics' political attitudes: It's complicated (but hopeful)

As important as elections are, it's critical that leaders and other reflective Catholics pause and consider how these votes are rooted (or not) in broader Catholic principles.

Fr. Bob Kabat, pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Allouez, Wis., distributes ashes to a young child during Ash Wednesday Mass, Feb. 14. Some 53% of American Catholics are "cultural Catholics" who attend Mass "a few times a year" or "seldom or never," while 47% attend monthly or more often. (OSV News/Sam Lucero)

Cultural Catholics: The loosely-tethered half of the American church

Maureen K. Day shares insights from her new book comparing the 53% of American Catholics who attend Mass "a few times a year" or "seldom or never" with the 47% who attend monthly or more often. 

Zod peeks out from the bedsheets. He's one of 10 puppies (plus their mom) that Maureen K. Day's family fostered. (Courtesy of Maureen K. Day)

Catholic tales: Insights from fostering a pit bull and her 10 puppies

Real happiness is poop and cuteness. Puppies aren't puppies without both. And so is everything else worthwhile in our lives.

Why are we at each others' throats? Healing polarization in our church

Perspective: Catholics are now grouped into a liberal or conservative binary that is reinforced in our jobs, home life and more. A more unified church is possible, but we face formidable challenges.

Standing in solidarity with the LGBTQ community is a pro-life issue

Perspective: There are parts of Catholic teaching that are inviolable, like the recognition of the dignity of the human person. Each person is made in the image and likeness of God; we must never do anything that violates the human dignity of another.

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