John Allen profiles Benedict XVI for Suenens audience

In his third program appearance for the Cardinal Suenens Center (Sep 22), Vatican analyst John Allen provided insights about the new Pope from his recently published The Rise of Benedict XVI: The Inside Story of how he was elected and where he will take the Church. Allen is the Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, a CNN commentator and an "expert" voice heard often on National Public Radio and other news media outlets.

The expectations about the papacy of the former Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger -- whether of alarm or joy -- have been exagerrated in equal proportion," Allen observed. He went on to profile the papacy of Benedict XVI in terms of substance, style and structure.

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In her introduction of the speaker, Suenens Director Doris Donnelly noted that Allen is the only "encore" performer the Center has ever had. He returned the compliment, stating that the work of the Suenens Center -- the "space for conversation" it provides and the voices it allows to be heard -- is appreciated in circles "far and wide."

The Suenens Center's next program, at 5:30 pm, Wednesday (Oct 5), presents Notre Dame Professor M. Cathleen Kaveny on "A look at Salvation and 'The Sopranos.'" More info-->

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The Suenens audience filled the Jardine Room for John Allen

John Allen on Benedict XVI:

"His fundamental job is to lead people to fall in love -- to fall in love with Jesus Christ and to fall in love with the community Christ called into being that is the Church."

	<--Doris Donnelly's introduction of John Allen (4 min)
	<--John Allen's comment on JCU & the Cardinal Suenens Center (1:14)
	<--General comments on the new Pope (18 min)
	<--"Matters of substance" (7:30)
	<--"Matters of style" (4:45)
	<--"Matters of structure" (9 min)
Questions & Answers
	<--What are the possibilities under Pope Benedict of having married clergy as in the Orthodox churches? (4:30)
	<--On the subject of ecumenism, isn't the Church making more progress with the church in Constantinople than the church in Moscow? (5:30)
	<--How does Pope Benedict feel about decisions being made at the "local" level in bishops' conferences? (2 min)
	<--On the subject of women's ordination, the Armenian and Greek Orthodox churches have women as deacons. Will our Church move in that direction? (1:14)
	<--Could you comment on the Marciel case, in view of the statement by the Vatican Secretary of State's office that its continuation "is not foreseen?" (5 min)
	<--Is the Vatican concerned about China? (3 min)
	<--Could you comment on the document reportedly coming from the Vatican stating that gays should not be admitted to the seminary? (8:30)
	<--Isn't this deceptive, if we assume that gays who don't "come out" will still be able to join the priesthood? Is there a gap between "law" and "practice?" (0:30)
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