Station XV: Episode 184 — Christchurch, Colonialism, Commission, Coronation
In this month’s episode, a couple of controversies lead our lineup — an attempt to block the construction of a new cathedral in New Zealand and the repudiation of a 15th-century doctrine. Things don’t get much less complicated as the panel discusses the resignation of a key child protection figure, but most people can get behind the new King and some furry friends, right? Listen to find out, as we welcome a new member of the panel, with Cameron joining James, Don and Anna on our Easter episode. Enjoy.
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Station XV: Episode 183 — Pope, Project, Politics, Pamela
There’s a bit of a revolving door for the panel this month as we reflect on 10 years of Pope Francis, with most suggesting it’s been a mixed bag (including The Washington Post). In Germany, the Church appears to be pursuing some practices that veer away from Catholic teaching, but in Australia it’s just all-out offence that is the concern. The Scottish bishops are trying to insert some sanity back into politics, while Pamela Anderson shares her prayer habits. Thanks for joining Anna, Don, James and Gavin for another chat around the virtual water cooler.
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Station XV: Episode 182 – Pacific, Pope, Parishes, Practice
The bishops from around the Pacific have gathered for a major meeting, with climate change among the key topics on the agenda. On the other side of the world, Pope Francis has again found himself having to explain comments he made in a media interview, this time on homosexuality and sin. Things appeared a little clearer in Australia, for a gathering of people focused on parish renewal, and in Nigeria, where a cardinal has tried to share the secrets of the country’s high Mass attendance. And in our light story for the month, Anna, Don and James discuss – no, seriously – middle fingers. Ne’er a dull moment on The 15th Station.
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Station XV: Episode 181 — Pope, Pell, Pledges, Pilgrimage
2023 starts off on a fairly sombre note, with the panel covering the deaths of two Church heavyweights — Pope Benedict for the Church globally and Cardinal George Pell for the Church in Australia and New Zealand (and beyond). The panel reflects on their legacies, which many are saying are mixed. Anna, Don, James and Gavin also discuss pledges from the Church in New Zealand in the area of abuse, the missionaries who died in 2022 while serving the Church and Lionel Messi’s plans for a pilgrimage to thank Our Lady for Argentina winning the Football World Cup.
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Station XV: Episode 180 — Pastors, Pew, Pope, Prayer, Poland
For the Christmas episode, it’s a typically international look at the life of the Church. The panels globetrot from Australia, where hard choices are being made on pastoral care for those accessing euthanasia, to the Christmas scenes in Rome and a call to prayer in New Zealand. A new Pew Research report assesses how religious practice was affected during COVID, including through violence, and we end with some more violence — by someone dressed up as a Christmas tree. No, seriously. We wish the Station 15 family a happy and holy Christmas.
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Station XV: Episode 179 — Abstinence, Bahrain, Campbell, Dioceses, Enlarging
Don, James and Gavin metaphorically join Pope Francis on his Middle East trip, assessing the impact of his time in Bahrain. In New Zealand, men attending a retreat have been urged to stand up against relativism by a former bishop, while in other parts of the country they’re trying to find new bishops. The Vatican has published the next document in the Synod on Synodality journey, put there doesn’t appear to be any talk of reinstating abstinence from meat on Fridays. Maybe it would save the planet….
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Station XV: Episode 178 — Queen, Quitting, Quake, Quirkiness
As the world — and especially the Commonwealth and the Christian world — stopped to mourn the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Catholic leaders featured prominently at her funeral. She was remembered as a woman of deep faith, among other virtues. At the other end of the world, bishops in New Zealand and Australia have published documents to guide schools as they seek to support gender diverse students. In other news on either side of the Tasman Sea, a Christian’s resignation from a football club has caused a furore, while a New Zealand parish has had cause to celebrate the opening of a new parish after the devastating 2010-11 earthquakes. And as winter approaches in Ireland, priests are proposing a quirky solution to the problem of high power prices: More clothes and shorter Masses. Join Anna, James and Gavin for this month’s episode.
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Station XV: Episode 177 — 15 Years Young
As The 15th Station team celebrates 15 years of podcasting, it’s a typically global issue as this month’s stories take us to the New Zealand capital, to Canada, Germany and Italy. There are some uplifting stories, some confronting ones and an absolute head-scratcher — so not too dissimilar from many of the 177 episodes over the years. Join Anna, Donald, James and Gavin as they reminisce about the show’s history, but also tackles some of the big stories of today.
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Station XV: Episode 176 — Sacrifice, Synod, Census, Sisters
Pope Francis has urged Catholics to better understand the sacrifice of the Mass — which is something the Station 15 panel can certainly get behind. The Pope has also made headlines with the commitment to appoint women to the panel that appoints bishops (announced before we recorded, followed through after the recording). Closer to home, New Zealand dioceses have published the fruits of their local consultation for the Synod of Bishops on Synodality and, across the Tasman, new data shows the number of Catholics in Australia is falling. Maybe some ardent prayer — come rain or shine — is the way to go…
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Station XV: Episode 175 – Persecution, Pelosi, Palliation, Prayer
The episode is a real mixture of joy and sadness, as we traverse the globe for this month’s stories. Starting close to home, there’s news of the appointment of a Bishop of Christchurch, but in Africa, the news of another attack on a Catholic church and dozens of worshippers is maddening and sickening. In the US, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone’s decision to ban House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from receiving communion has created a stir, while back Down Under there are concerns people won’t get the health care they need because of fears about euthanasia. Maybe we just need to pray about it and have a stiff drink — like the Venezuelan man in our light story. Enjoy the show, and keep up with your own prayers for our world.
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