John L. Allen

El autor de este libro, un periodista norteamericano, ha condensado en diez breve capítulos el pensamiento del papa Ratzinger sobre los fundamentos de la fe cristiana, una fe que sigue siendo totalmente valida para los hombres y mujeres de nuestro tiempo. No se trata de un conjunto de normas, sino de un si rotundo a la dignidad del ser humano y la firme conviccion de que Dios nos ama sin medida. En definitiva, que la nuestra es una religion del amor y para el amor.

El cardenal Dolan es una de las figuras más singulares de la Iglesia de nuestros días. Arzobispo de Nueva York, Presidente de la Conferencia Episcopal de Estados Unidos, miembro del Consejo Pontificio para la Promocion de la Nueva Evangelizacion y una de las figuras prominentes en los dias previos al ultimo conclave que eligio al Papa Francisco. En este libro comparte con los lectores su vision mas personal sobre el presente y el futuro de la Iglesia en una serie de conversaciones intimas con el afamado periodista John Allen, permitiendonos asi conocer de primera mano quien es y que piensa Timothy Dolan.El cardenal Dolan es una de las figuras más singulares de la Iglesia de nuestros días. Arzobispo de Nueva York, Presidente de la Conferencia Episcopal de Estados Unidos, miembro del Consejo Pontificio para la Promocion de la Nueva Evangelizacion y una de las figuras prominentes en los dias previos al ultimo conclave que eligio al Papa Francisco. En este libro comparte con los lectores su vision mas personal sobre el presente y el futuro de la Iglesia en una serie de conversaciones intimas con el afamado periodista John Allen, permitiendonos asi conocer de primera mano quien es y que piensa Timothy Dolan.Al hilo de las preguntas de John Allen, el arzobispo de Nueva York reflexiona sobre los temas candentes...

A fascinating and enlightening look at the worlds'' oldest and most mysterious institution is written by an American journalist with unparalleled knowledge about the Vatican''s past and present. Balanced and lively and filled with Vatican history and lore, "All the Pope''s Men" provides the general reader with an authoritative picture of the highly charged relationship between the Vatican and the American Catholic Church.Doubleday

Opus Dei is one of the most talked about but least known religious organizations of our time. For years no one has been allowed access to its secrets. Until now. Here, Vatican insider John Allen uncovers its true nature. Granted unlimited access to those within its ranks, gaining a wealth of interviews with the heads of Opus Dei around the world, Allen finally separates the myths from the facts: the actual use of whips and the cilice; the true extent of Opus Dei''s funds; the identities of its influential members in politics, banking and high office; and how much power this shadowy group really has. Definitive, persuasive and absorbing'' - Daily Telegraph. Focuses on some of the most controversial aspects of the organization, from its treatment of women to its recruitment and its money'' - Independent. He reports on all aspects of the Opus Dei cult (including structure and finance, and the practice of mortifying the flesh with a cilice) and, most usefully, includes details of the bishops and personnel around the world who are Opus Dei clergy''

The first serious journalistic investigation of the highly secretive, controversial organization Opus Dei provides unique insight about the wild rumors surrounding it and discloses its significant influence in the Vatican and on the politics of the Catholic Church.Opus Dei (literally the work of God) is an international association of Catholics often labeled as conservative who seek personal Christian perfection and strive to implement Christian ideals in their jobs and in society as a whole. Founded in Spain in 1928, it now has 84,000 members (1,600 of whom are priests) in eighty countries. But far from running bingo nights at local parishes, Opus Dei has become a center of controversy and suspicion both within and outside the Church. It has been accused of promoting a right-wing political agenda and of cultlike practices, aggressive recruiting, brainwashing new recruits, and isolating members from their families. Its notoriety escalated with the publication of the runaway bestseller The Da Vinci Code (Opus Dei plays an important and sinister role in the novel) and with the previous popes much-debated canonization of its founder (often linked with Francisco Francos facist regime) and the discovery that convicted FBI spy Robert Hanson was a member of Opus Dei.With the expert eye of a longtime trusted observer of the Vatican and the skill of an investigative reporter intent on uncovering closely guarded secrets, John Allen finally separates the myths from the facts in Opus Dei. Granted unlimited access to the prelate who heads the organization and to Opus Dei centers throughout the world, Allen draws on a wealth of interviews with current members, as well as with highly critical ex-members, to create an unprecedented portrait of the activities, practices, and intentions behind its veil of secrecy. Allen reveals the remarkable power that Opus Dei commands in shaping Vatican policy and presents a detailed look at the full extent of its network, which includes people in key positions in politics, banking, academia, and other influential arenas. He even describes the arcane ritualsincluding self-flagellationperformed to preserve and promote a spiritual tradition strange and unsettling to modern sensibilities.For years, Opus Dei has been the subject of conspiracy theories and dark, uninformed speculation. Opus Dei sets the record straight.

One of the worlds most respected religion journalists profiles New Yorks Archbishop Timothy Dolan, one of the countrysand possibly the worldsmost important Catholic leaders through lengthy exclusive interviews. Unique among the current leadership of the Catholic Church, Archbishop Dolan shares his insightful perspective in this series of conversations on the present and future of Catholicism. In these pages Dolan shares a perspective which is typically not part of the information an average person would know through todays media. This omission often leaves outsiders with a terribly flawed grasp of whats actually happening in the Church. Legitimate stories on, for example, abuse and Church authority cant be dissolved by reactive conspiracy theories about how the media is out to get the Catholic Church. That said, if these scandals are all there is to the Catholic Church, why would anyone bother being Catholic? It may not be surprising that there are an estimated 22 million ex-Catholics out there, yet it is revealing that even more people have chosen to remain with the Church. Tens of millions of Americans, and hundreds of millions more around the world, still turn to the Church for inspiration, for its sacramental life, for its experience of community and service. In every diocese in America you can find parishes that are flourishing. The faith represented there is not an exaggerated religious frenzy that feeds an uncritical view of the Church. Catholics are nothing if not sober realists about the humanity of their institutions and leaders. They see the Church not as a debating society or a multinational enterprise, but a familywith all the flaws and dysfunction, but also all the joy and life, of families everywhere. This is why Archbishop Dolan is such an important part of the Churchs emerging landscape.In A People of Hope Dolan is seen at his best, capturing an upbeat, hopeful, affirming Catholicism thats the untold story about the Church today. As readers spend time with Dolan here, they may find that his love for people and zest for friendship is whats truly fundamental about the man, not a PR device calculated to conceal some other agenda. Dolan can and does draw lines in the sand when he believes that core matters of Catholic identity are at stake. Hes well aware that we live in a deeply secular world in the West, in which powerful pressures, both subtle and overt, seek to blur the counter-cultural message of Catholicism on many fronts. One key to Dolans character, however, is that changing hearts, not knocking heads, is always his first instinct.John Allen draws out a picture of future trends by exploring where Dolan wants to lead, and how will a Church that increasingly bears his imprint look and feel? To understand this, whats really necessary is to get inside his head and then let him speak for himself. To that end Allen frames questions in a way that allows Dolan to expand on the topic himself as much as possible. The result is a book more with Dolan than a book about him, which is indeed the best way to understand the man. At the end, one can agree or disagree with Dolans outlook, but one may at least be better equipped to understand why thoughtful modern women and men might still believe theres something worth considering in the Catholic message.Whatever the future may have in store for Dolanstaying in New York until he dies, being called to Rome to work in a senior Vatican post, or something else entirelyhe will be a force in the Catholic Church both nationally and internationally for some time to come, and its well worth trying to discern what that might mean.

One of the most respected journalists in the United States and the bestselling author of The Future Church uses his unparalleled knowledge of world affairs and religious insight to investigate the troubling worldwide persecution of Christians. From Iraq and Egypt to Sudan and Nigeria, from Indonesia to the Indian subcontinent, Christians in the early 21st century are the worlds 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 worlds 2.3 billion Christians now live outside the West, often as a beleaguered minority up against a hostile majority-- whether its 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. Were not talking about a metaphorical war on religion in Europe and the United States, fought on symbolic terrain such as whether its 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.

A fascinating and enlightening look at the worlds oldest and most mysterious institution, written by an American journalist with unparalleled knowledge about the Vaticans past and present.The sexual abuse scandals that shook American and British Catholicism in 2002 brought to light a long-standing cultural gap between the English-speaking Catholic world and the Vatican. In Rome, the crisis was often seen as an attack on the Church mounted by money-hungry lawyers, a hostile press, and liberal activists who used it as a way to turn attention on such concerns as celibacy, womens ordination, and lay empowerment. When the Vatican struck down the U.S. bishops draft for handling allegations of sexual abuse, many saw it as an attempt to curb an independent American Catholic church. Yet, as time passed, it became clear that the Vaticans well-founded concerns about due process were shared by most liberal U.S. bishops and canon lawyers. ALL THE POPES MEN is a lucid, in-depth guide to the sometimes puzzling, often incomprehensible inner workings of the Vatican. It reveals how decisions are made, how papal bureaucrats think, and how careers in the Roman Curia are shaped. It debunks the myths that have fed the distrust and suspicions many English-speaking Catholics harbor about the way the Vatican conducts its business, explains who really wields the power, and offers entertaining profiles of the personalities, historical and present-day, who have wielded that power for good and for bad. A thoughtful analysis of the recent sexual abuse crisis sheds light on how the Vatican perceives the Church in the United States. Balanced, lively, and filled with Vatican history and lore, ALL THE POPES MEN provides the general reader with an authoritative picture of the highly charged relationship between the Vatican and the richest, most influential national Catholic church in the world today.

Born out of a speech celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the Edict of Milan, in which emperors Constantine I and Licinius granted Christians legal rights, this book by Cardinal Angelo Scola gives attention to the crisis of religious freedom in the twenty-first century. Lets Not Forget God outlines how Christianity has been at the center of creating a pluralistic society, from the Roman Empire in 313 to the American Revolution in 1776. This bold vision of freedom brings religion into the realm of public debate without allowing the state to banish or control it. The question of religious freedom,closely connected to that of freedom of conscience, writes Cardinal Scola, is revealing itself today to be crucial not only to the development of Western societies but also to the peaceful evolution of their relationships with Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Lets Not Forget God is both a portrait of the history of religious freedom and a testament to its potential for spreading peace.

One of the worlds foremost religion journalists offers an unexpected and provocative look at where the Catholic Church is headedand 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 advancesincluding cloning and genetic enhancementthe aging Catholic population, or expanding the roles of the laity.Like Thomas Friedmans The World Is Flat, THE FUTURE CHURCH establishes a new framework for meeting the challenges of a changing world.

Opus Dei is one of the most talked about but least known religious organizations of our time. For years no one has been allowed access to its secrets.Until now ...Here, Vatican insider John Allen uncovers its true nature. Granted unlimited access to those within its ranks, gaining a wealth of interviews with the heads of Opus Dei around the world, Allen finally separates the myths from the facts: the actual use of whips and the cilice; the true extent of Opus Deis funds; the identities of its influential members in politics, banking and high office; and how much power this shadowy group really has.Definitive, persuasive and absorbing Daily TelegraphFocuses on some of the most controversial aspects of the organization, from its treatment of women to its recruitment and its money IndependentHe reports on all aspects of the Opus Dei cult (including structure and finance, and the practice of mortifying the flesh with a cilice) ... and, most usefully, includes details of the bishops and personnel around the world who are Opus Dei clergy New StatesmanAn admirable book ... the first stop for anyone interested in [Opus Dei] Sunday Times

On 19 April 2005 at 5.50pm, white smoke poured from the Vatican chimney. Joseph Ratzinger had become one of the most important figures on earth. How and why was Pope Benedict XVI elected? And what will his impact be on the Catholic faith and the world?Vatican correspondent John L. Allen draws on his unparalleled knowledge to give the full inside story of the Churchs new leadership. In this in-depth account he examines the transition from John Paul II to Benedict XVI, the legacy of the previous Pope and the role of the current leader. He takes us right into the heart of the selection process, interviewing the cardinals who chose Benedict XVI to reveal their thoughts on the new Pope and the reasons why he was picked. And he looks at why this conclave was one of the briefest of modern times. Confronting many difficult questions, Allen asks what the choice of a renowned hard line traditionalist will mean for 1.1 billion Catholics around the globe. What do the way Ratzinger rose to power, his history and theological views say about how the faith will now move forward? Why did the Vatican choose such a seemingly safe candidate? And what will the consequences be for Catholicism and the challenges it faces today?

El Opus Dei está rodeado de una aura de misterio y secretismo. Tras la publicación de El Código da Vinci se reavivó el interés universal por conocer sus secretos.John L. Allen es el vaticanista más prestigioso del mundo. Tambien el se sintio atraido por el misterio del Opus Dei y quiso saber que se ocultaba tras la fachada de esta prelatura personal. Allen ha conseguido que le abran todas las puertas de la organizacion. Para escribir este libro ha viajado a ocho paises, realizado mas de trescientas horas de entrevistas a miembros y detractores del Opus Dei e incluso ha vivido cinco dias siguiendo sus reglas en una de sus residencias para comprender que se siente al ser uno de sus miembros.El Opus Dei no ha censurado o alterado el contenido de esta obra. Lo que el lector tiene en sus manos es, simplemente, toda la verdad.