Editor's Note:
John Allen appeared on the PBS show RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY for its annual look ahead at the new year.
Here's a link to a video of the program and its transcript: Look Ahead 2009:
BOB ABERNETHY, anchor: We take our annual look ahead with the help of Kim Lawton of RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY, John Allen, home from his beat covering the Vatican for National Catholic Reporter, and E.J. Dionne, a columnist with The Washington Post and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Welcome to you all.
E.J., in three weeks we have a new administration. What should we expect? ...And John, what do you see of particular interest to the Vatican and to U.S. Catholics?