Harte, Thomas J.

(1914-1974) Born in Ireland and orphaned by the age of 11, Harte moved to New Jersey at the age of 14 to live with an uncle. He joined the Redemptorist order (C.SS.R.) in 1937 and was ordained a priest in 1942. He received both an M.A. and a Ph.D. in sociology from Catholic University of America. He was a member of the Department of Sociology at Catholic University of America from 1947 until his death. He was also Research Consultant and Chief Investigator for the Council on Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), Hagerstown, Maryland. President, American Catholic Sociological Society, 1951.

One of his published books in the sociology of religion was coedited with C. Joseph Nuesse, The Sociology of the Parish (Bruce 1951). His ACSS presidential address focused on the evidence of research among Catholic sociologists, particularly in Catholic institutions of higher education. He asked, “Do Catholic sociologists measure up to what may be reasonably expected of them as scholars and as scientists?” Based on a recent survey of members of the American Catholic Sociological Society, his answer was a resounding “No!” and he deplored the state of scholarship as demonstrated by the membership’s paucity of publication.

—Loretta M. Morris