Cultural Catholics - by Maureen K Day (Paperback)

About the Book

"Cultural Catholics tells the story of those who consider themselves Catholic, but infrequently attend Mass. This book examines cultural Catholics on a range of topics and offers ministerial insights for connecting with and accompanying them on their spiritual journeys"--

Book Synopsis

2025 Association of Catholic Publishers Second Place Award, Resources for Ministry

Over half of self-identified Catholics are regularly absent from the pews on Sunday. How do these cultural Catholics practice their faith and how can we better minister to them?

Who are "cultural Catholics" and how do we connect with them? Written by award-winning sociologist and professor of religion Maureen K. Day, Cultural Catholics tells the story of those who consider themselves Catholic, but infrequently attend Mass. This accessible book examines cultural Catholics on a range of topics, allowing readers to come to a better understanding of this group, and offers ministerial insights for connecting with and accompanying them on their spiritual journeys.

Cultural Catholics comprise just over half of self-identified Catholics in the United States. Typical efforts or questions of outreach come from parishes, but because most cultural Catholics are loosely tethered to parish life, the standard avenues of Catholic ministry do not reach them in any reliable way. Using a nationally representative survey of more than 1,500 American Catholics as well as insights from ministry leaders, this book allows readers to see the differences and similarities in how cultural Catholics relate to their faith compared to Catholics in the pews. It also explores cultural Catholics' religious beliefs and practices, political and civic commitments, parish experiences, and concludes with concrete, evidence-based pastoral approaches.

Review Quotes

"Cultural Catholics embodies both of these needs and is a resource from which any diocese, campus ministry or scholar engaged in this work would benefit. Day is neither blindly optimistic nor despairing; rather, she charts a way ahead fitting for this Jubilee Year, undergirded by authentic, ambitious hope."

America Magazine

"This book does a compelling job of emphasizing the heterogeneity among American Catholics in ways that are both rigorous and accessible. This in depth treatment of cultural Catholics will be of interest to both scholars and those engaged with both ministry and leadership of Catholic organizations."
American Catholic Studies

-- (11/18/2025 12:00:00 AM)

"Cultural Catholics is a very readable and engaging look at that half of the U.S. Catholic Church on the margins or totally outside of parish life. Maureen Day digs into the subtle issues of cultural Catholics versus active Catholics with a sensitive sociological and pastoral eye. She highlights the critical question of 'who' mediates the Church, be it parishioners, parish staff, deacons or priests--and how those on the margins experience this mediation. Includes lots of pastoral insight and suggested actions."
Tom Gaunt, SJ, Executive Director of Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), and editor of Faith and Spiritual Life of Young Adult Catholics in a Rising Hispanic Church-- (4/26/2024 12:00:00 AM)

"For anyone who cares about the Catholic faith surviving; for anyone willing to imagine a new way of defining 'a lived faith'; for anyone enthused by the idea that there is a new path forward for Catholic identity; this book is for you! This research and its application help all of us in church life to reframe our understanding of the role Catholic identity plays in the lives of so many, and encourages us to be innovative in how we respond to the concept of 'cultural Catholicism' as a positive starting point. In this light, all of us can be considered 'cultural Catholics' anew, and I am hopeful for the path forward."
Nicole M. Perone, National Coordinator, ESTEEM, Chair of the Board of Members, National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults-- (5/13/2024 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Maureen K. Day, PhD, is the associate professor of religion and society at the Franciscan School of Theology. She is also a research affiliate at the University of Southern California's Center for Religion and Civic Culture and their Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies. Her work as a sociologist focuses on religion in American civic life, Catholic campus ministry, young adults, family, stewardship, and priestly well-being and support. She is an award-winning author and regularly gives public talks on issues related to pastoral ministry and church life.