Faith-based universities can stay relevant by focusing on justice for all

With its 23,000+ students, DePaul is the largest Catholic university in the country. And yet its founding religious order is dwindling; it recently welcomed its second lay president (a practicing Episcopalian); and less than 40% of DePaul students identify as Catholic. (Sun-Times files)

Although the U.S. continues to be a place of tremendous religious diversity, the number of religious “nones” — those who claim no religious affiliation in particular — is rising precipitously.

In 2020, the religiously unaffiliated made up 30% of all U.S. citizens, Pew Research Center data show, and that number is likely to increase.