First Friday Club of Greater Akron
Contact: Sally Riede 330-928-8146 or 330-535-2787


John Allen, Noted Vatican Correspondent, Will Address 'Megatrends in Catholicism' at The First Friday Club Luncheon, September 5th, 2008

John Allen Jr., prize-winning Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, will address the topic, “Megatrends in Catholicism: Ten Forces Turning the Church Upside Down” in his hour-long presentation at the First Friday Club luncheon at The University of Akron Martin Center, 105 Fir Hill, Akron, at noon on Friday, September 5th, 2008. Mr. Allen is, according to the London Tablet, the most authoritative Vatican writer in the English language. Since 1999, he has served not only as a Vatican correspondent, but also as a CNN analyst on Vatican affairs. He also speaks on Public Radio. His reporting is admired across ideological divides; liberal commentator, Andrew Greeley calls Allen's Vatican analysis “indispensable”, while conservative, Richard John Newhaus says possibly the best reporting on the Holy See published in the United States is Allen's weekly 'The Word on Rome' Internet column. Veteran Religious writer, Kenneth Woodward described Allen as “the journalist other reporters - and not a few cardinals - look to for the inside story on how all the pope's men direct the world's largest church”. Allen is the author of three books on Vatican affairs: Conclave, All the Pope's Men and The Rise of Benedict XVI.

Allen is a graduate of the University of Kansas with a Master's degree in religious studies. He and his wife, Shannon, live in New York and Allen also has a residence in Rome.


The First Friday Club of Greater Akron is a Catholic organization whose purpose is to bring the best Catholic thinkers, teachers and leaders into Akron on a monthly basis to promote a better understanding of the significant issues impacting church, family, work and community life. The luncheon series is in its ninth year and consistently draws an average of 200 to 250 people from Summit County and surrounding counties. It is also intended to be a community service and all interested in the topics are invited to attend.
 

The cost of the luncheon is $14.00 with the doors opening at 11:15 AM. Prepaid reservations can be made by sending a check to the First Friday Club of Greater Akron, 795 Russell Ave., Akron, Ohio 44307. For additional information call 330-535-7668.