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Patricia Tevington

Research Associate

Expertise:Religion and Public Life

Patricia Tevington is a Research Associate on Pew Research Center’s Religion and Public Life research team where she is an expert on conducting surveys examining American religion with a focus on Christianity, spirituality and the religiously unaffiliated. She has worked on several surveys exploring U.S. Catholics and their views toward Pope Francis, religiously unaffiliated Americans, Americans’ views of religious groups, and views on America as a Christian nation. She holds a doctorate in sociology from the University of Pennsylvania.

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reportDec 15, 2025

Why Do Some Americans Leave Their Religion While Others Stay?

A majority of adults still identify with their childhood religion, but 35% don’t. Read about when and why Americans may switch faiths or stay.
reportJun 16, 2025

47% of U.S. Adults Have a Personal or Family Connection to Catholicism

Nearly half of U.S. adults are connected to Catholicism. Read about going to Mass, Communion, confession and more.
reportApr 30, 2025

Most U.S. Catholics Say They Want the Church To Be ‘More Inclusive’

Majorities want the church to allow use of birth control and IVF, and to permit priests to bless same-sex couples. But views differ by Mass attendance.
short readsMar 4, 2025

10 facts about U.S. Catholics

Catholics are one of the largest religious groups in the United States, outnumbering any single Protestant denomination.
reportFeb 26, 2025

Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off

After years of decline, the U.S. Christian share now shows signs of leveling off. The new Religious Landscape Study explores trends in identity, beliefs and practices.
short readsFeb 25, 2025

Pope Francis and public opinion: Key findings from our surveys

At least 80% of Catholics have expressed a favorable opinion of Pope Francis in 10 of the 15 U.S. surveys in which we have asked about the pope since 2013.
reportApr 12, 2024

Majority of U.S. Catholics Express Favorable View of Pope Francis

Most say Francis represents change in the church. And many say the church should allow priests to marry and let Catholics use birth control.
short readsFeb 7, 2024

8 facts about atheists

Around six-in-ten U.S. atheists are men (64%). And seven-in-ten are ages 49 or younger, compared with about half of U.S. adults overall (52%).
reportJan 24, 2024

Religious ‘Nones’ in America: Who They Are and What They Believe

28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, describing themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religion.
reportDec 7, 2023

Spirituality Among Americans

Overall, 70% of U.S. adults describe themselves as spiritual in some way, including 22% who are spiritual but not religious. An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (83%) say they believe that people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body. And 81% say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.