Catholic journalist John L. Allen Jr., a CNN analyst and an associate editor at the Boston Globe, discussed the future of the Catholic Church — describing what he called three “mega trends” in the church today — during a gathering Nov. 3 at the Flaget Center.

As the keynote speaker at the latest Archdiocesan Leadership Institute, Allen shared his analysis of the church with archdiocesan agency staff, clergy, religious and parish staff and volunteers.

Allen, who’s also an associate editor of the Globe’s Catholic news website Crux, began by cautioning his listeners: Trying to predict the future of the church with Pope Francis at the helm is a “fools errand.” He suggested, instead, that Catholics “step back” and examine “the big picture.”

In thinking about Catholic life, Allen said he sees three “mega trends” that may shape the church’s future.

• The rise of a world church.
• The rise of a church of martyrs.
• “Tribalism,” a sort of multifaceted polarization, in the U.S. church.

Read the article “The Complicated Future of the Catholic Church” on therecordnewspaper.org.