On this Christmas Eve, we take another look at the evolution of the Roman Catholic Church, an ancient institution in a fast moving world. Los Angeles, America's largest Catholic Archdiocese, is now 70 percent Latino and will soon will be led, for the first time, by a bishop born in Mexico. To replace outgoing Archbishop Cardinal Roger Mahony, a relatively liberal leader of Irish-American stock, Pope Benedict XVI has named Jose Gomez, who's associated with the conservative group Opus Dei. Both facts are telling about the Church in America and the views of the Vatican. In Europe, there's talk of a "post Christian era," and two-thirds of the world's one billion Roman Catholics live in Asia, Africa and Latin America. How long will church teachings remain the same? (This segment was originally broadcast on April 12, 2010)
The Catholic Church, the Next Generation
Credits
Guests:
- John Allen - Boston Globe - @JohnLAllenJr
- Richard McBrien - Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
- Andrew Small - Director, US Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office for the Church in Latin America
- Patrick Ryan - Professor of Religion and Society, Fordham University