From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

The Roman Catholic Future, in the U.S. and around the world.

Hello again, I'm Arminolny, and this is an archive to broadcast of To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the

issues Americans care about most. On this Christmas Eve, we'll take another look at the Roman Catholic

Church, an ancient institution in a fast-moving world. Los Angeles, America's largest Catholic

archdiocese, is now 70% Latino. It soon will be led for the first time by a bishop born in Mexico. In Europe,

there's talk of a post-Christian era, and two-thirds of the world's one billion Roman Catholics

live in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. How long will church teachings remain the same?

On reporters' notebook later on, a New York Times reporter's escape from the Taliban and what his wife went through while he was gone.

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio International Program Fund,

whose contributors include the Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur

Foundation, and the Skoll Foundation, supporting social entrepreneurs around the world, uncommon heroes

dedicated to the common good. Learn more at scole.org. Hello again, Warren Alney, back with To the

Point. The Roman Catholic Church hasn't survived for centuries without adapting to changing times.

What's next in the U.S. and Europe? Is the future in Africa, Asia, and Latin America?

On reporter's notebook, a New York Times reporter who escaped from Taliban kidnappers wasn't the only one whose life was changed.

We'll talk with David Rode and his wife, Christian Moldahill. First, this news update,

it's Christmas Eve, the last day of the shopping season, and despite the sagging economy,

retailers have not lapsed into panicked fire sales. That's according to Kathleen Madigan,

economics columnist for the Dow Jones Newswire. Kathleen, good have you on our program.

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