Religions Around The World

In the early morning hours, monks can be seen walking on their alms round in Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Showing humility and detachment from worldly goods, the monk walks slowly and only stops if he is called. Standing quietly, with his bowl open, the local Buddhists give him rice, or flowers, or an envelope containing money.  In return, the monks bless the local Buddhists and wish them a long and fruitful life.
Christians Celebrate Good Friday
Enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in St. Mary's Church in Secunderabad, India. Only 2.3% of India's population is Christian. 
Ancient interior mosaic in the Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora
The Church of the Holy Saviour in Istanbul, Turkey is a medieval Byzantine Greek Orthodox church.
Dome of the Rock located in the Old City of Jerusalem
The site's great significance for Muslims derives from traditions connecting it to the creation of the world and to the belief that the Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey to heaven started from the rock at the center of the structure.
Holi Festival in Mathura, India
Holi is a Hindu festival that marks the end of winter. Also known as the “festival of colors”,  Holi is primarily observed in South Asia but has spread across the world in celebration of love and the changing of the seasons.
Jewish father and daughter pray at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Israel.
Known in Hebrew as the Western Wall, it is one of the holiest sites in the world. The description, "place of weeping", originated from the Jewish practice of mourning the destruction of the Temple and praying for its rebuilding at the site of the Western Wall.
People praying in Mengjia Longshan Temple in Taipei, Taiwan
The temple is dedicated to both Taoism and Buddhism.
People praying in the Grand Mosque in Ulu Cami
This is the most important mosque in Bursa, Turkey and a landmark of early Ottoman architecture built in 1399.
Savior Transfiguration Cathedral of the Savior Monastery of St. Euthymius
Located in Suzdal, Russia, this is a church rite of sanctification of apples and grapes in honor of the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.
Fushimi Inari Shrine is located in Kyoto, Japan
It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings. Fushimi Inari is the most important Shinto shrine dedicated to Inari, the Shinto god of rice.
Ladles at the purification fountain in the Hakone Shrine
Located in Hakone, Japan, this shrine is a Japanese Shinto shrine.  At the purification fountain, ritual washings are performed by individuals when they visit a shrine. This ritual symbolizes the inner purity necessary for a truly human and spiritual life.
Hanging Gardens of Haifa are garden terraces around the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel
They are one of the most visited tourist attractions in Israel. The Shrine of the Báb is where the remains of the Báb, founder of the Bábí Faith and forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh in the Bahá'í Faith, have been buried; it is considered to be the second holiest place on Earth for Bahá'ís.
Pilgrims praying at the Pool of the Nectar of Immortality and Golden Temple
Located in Amritsar, India, the Golden Temple is one of the most revered spiritual sites of Sikhism. It is a place of worship for men and women from all walks of life and all religions to worship God equally. Over 100,000 people visit the shrine daily.
Entrance gateway of Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple Kowloon
Located in Hong Kong, China, the temple is dedicated to Wong Tai Sin, or the Great Immortal Wong. The Taoist temple is famed for the many prayers answered: "What you request is what you get" via a practice called kau cim.
Christian women worship at a church in Bois Neus, Haiti.
Haiti's population is 94.8 percent Christian, primarily Catholic. This makes them one of the most heavily Christian countries in the world.

World Religions News

Can Catholic Universities Stay Catholic?

Religion News Service hosts free virtual discussion on faith, identity and the future of Catholic higher education

WASHINGTON — At a time when many Catholic colleges and universities face declining Catholic enrollment, shrinking theology programs, and mounting financial strain, Religion News Service (RNS) will convene a public conversation asking: What does it mean to be a Catholic university today—and does that still matter?

The free virtual event, “Can Catholic Universities Stay Catholic?”, will be held Thursday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. Eastern. Participants can register here.

Moderated by RNS Editor-in-Chief Paul O’Donnell, the discussion brings together prominent journalists and university leaders who are grappling with how to maintain Catholic identity on increasingly diverse and financially pressured campuses:

Heidi Schlumpf, Commonweal

Rob Vischer, President, University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)

Patricia McGuire, President, Trinity Washington University

Amy Uelmen, Georgetown Law

Once pillars of Catholic intellectual life, many of these institutions are now navigating complex questions about mission, enrollment, and purpose. As one university president recently observed, “I run a university with a Catholic name but few Catholic students or professors.”

The event will explore how Catholic universities are adapting to an era when many students come from other faiths—or none at all—and whether maintaining a distinctly Catholic identity remains vital to their mission and survival.

EVENT DETAILS

Can Catholic Universities Stay Catholic?

  • Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025
  • 2:00 p.m. Eastern
  • Virtual event — free, but registration required
  • Register here

Sustaining this work requires investment and support. RNS looks to collaborate with partners and supporters who are interested in underwriting virtual events and helping to ensure that these conversations reach people at a critical moment. To learn more about partnership and giving opportunities, contact Trish Terrell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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ABOUT RELIGION NEWS SERVICE (RNS)

RNS is an independent nonprofit news organization that provides objective, in-depth religion reporting and commentary by a team of professional journalists. Founded in 1934, RNS’s mission is to improve understanding and foster discussion about religion, faith and beliefs in everyday life. Its journalism is available for free on its website and through its podcasts, newsletters and social media. RNS also partners with mainstream media outlets to deliver news, features and commentary to its readers and followers. RNS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Religion News Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization. To learn more, visit RNS.org. 

Original Source:

https://religionnews.com/2025/11/13/can-catholic-universities-stay-catholic/