John L. Allen

"John Allen's book goes a long way toward explaining the central enigma surrounding Ratzinger: How did this erstwhile liberal end up as the chief architect of the the third great wave of repression in Catholic theology in the twentieth century? Based on extensive interviews with the cardinal's students and colleagues, archival research in his native Bavaria, and a thorough familiarity with his writings, Allen's account shows how the roots of Ratzinger's deep suspicion of "the world," his preoccupation with human sinfulness, and his demand for rock-solid loyalty to the church go deep. They reach into his childhood "in the shadow of the Nazis" and reflect his formative theological influences: St. Augustine, St. Bonaventure, and (oddly for a Catholic) Martin Luther rather than the more world-affirming St. Thomas Aquinas." "When the cardinals of the Catholic Church next gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect a pope, Allen argues, they will in effect be deciding whether to continue the policies Ratzinger has been the central force in shaping. John Allen's book offers an insightful, informative, sobering account of those policies and their impact on the church throughout the world."--BOOK JACKET.

"One of the world's most respected religion journalists profiles New York's Archbishop Timothy Dolan--one of the country's and possibly the world's most important Catholic leaders--through lengthy exclusive interviews."--Jacket.

From Iraq and Egypt to Sudan and Nigeria, from Indonesia to the Indian subcontinent, Christians in the early 21st century are the world's most persecuted religious group. According to the secular International Society for Human Rights, 80 percent of violations of religious freedom in the world today are directed against Christians. In effect, our era is witnessing the rise of a new generation of martyrs. Underlying the global war on Christians is the demographic reality that more than two-thirds of the world's 2.3 billion Christians now live outside the West, often as a beleaguered minority up against a hostile majority-- whether it's Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East and parts of Africa and Asia, Hindu radicalism in India, or state-imposed atheism in China and North Korea. In Europe and North America, Christians face political and legal challenges to religious freedom. Allen exposes the deadly threats and offers investigative insight into what is and can be done to stop these atrocities. “This book is about the most dramatic religion story of the early 21st century, yet one that most people in the West have little idea is even happening: The global war on Christians,” writes John Allen. “We’re not talking about a metaphorical ‘war on religion’ in Europe and the United States, fought on symbolic terrain such as whether it’s okay to erect a nativity set on the courthouse steps, but a rising tide of legal oppression, social harassment and direct physical violence, with Christians as its leading victims. However counter-intuitive it may seem in light of popular stereotypes of Christianity as a powerful and sometimes oppressive social force, Christians today indisputably form the most persecuted religious body on the planet, and too often its new martyrs suffer in silence.” This book looks to shatter that silence.

"When Shahbaz Bhatti, the lone Christian in Pakistan's cabinet and a determined campaigner for the rights of Christians and members of other faiths was killed, his Taliban-affiliated assassins probably hoped it would be the end of his influence. Instead, Bhatti's stature has only grown after death, and today he looms as a martyr and patron saint for persecuted Christians everywhere. His riveting life, from devoted altar boy in an overwhelming Muslim nation to human rights campaigner, from politician and government minister to martyr, is one of the great Christian dramas of our time, and as long as Christians are at risk anywhere in the world, Shahbaz Bhatti will be a source of inspiration and hope."--Publisher description.

There is no other organization whose inner workings are more secretive than the Vatican. Now, with a dynamic new leader in Pope Francis, all eyes are upon him as he seeks to bring the church back from the right to center, blurring the lines between politics, religion and culture. Allen reveals the inner workings of the Vatican to display the vast machinery of the Catholic Church, and an examination of the man at the helm.

One of the world's foremost religion journalists offers an unexpected and provocative look at where the Catholic Church is headed--and what the changes will mean for all of us.What will the Catholic Church be like in 100 years? Will there be a woman pope? Will dioceses throughout the United States and the rest of the world go bankrupt from years of scandal? In THE FUTURE CHURCH, John L. Allen puts forth the ten trends he believes will transform the Church into the twenty-second century. From the influence of Catholics in Africa, Asia, and Latin America on doctrine and practices to the impact of multinational organizations on local and ethical standards, Allen delves into the impact of globalization on the Roman Catholic Church and argues that it must rethink fundamental issues, policies, and ways of doing business. Allen shows that over the next century, the Church will have to respond to changes within the institution itself and in the world as a whole whether it is contending with biotechnical advances--including cloning and genetic enhancement--the aging Catholic population, or expanding the roles of the laity.Like Thomas Friedman's The World Is Flat, THE FUTURE CHURCH establishes a new framework for meeting the challenges of a changing world.From the Hardcover edition.