Station XV: Episode 76 — Holy Land, Catholic School, Religious House
We burst into the new year with the great news that Pope Francis, who was apparently a real drawcard in his first 10 months as leader of the world’s Catholics, will make a trip to the Holy Land and Jordan this year in the latest peace mission from a Pope. James, Lucy, Don and Gavin also talk about Catholic education — who it’s for and who it should be for — as well as the 6.6 million people who attended papal events since Pope Francis’s election, the expulsion of a priest from the Jesuits and the latest round of secularist antagonism, this time against the Ten Commandments. All in a busy episode of The 15th Station.
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Station XV: Episode 75 — Exhortations, Commendations and Affiliations
Pope Francis continues to dominate headlines around the world — and discussion on the Station 15 podcast network — with his naming as Time’s Person of the Year and the release of his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. The Church in New Zealand has also been in the news, with the release of Census data about religious affiliation showing Catholics the largest Christian denomination for the first time as “no religion” continues to soar ahead, and the NZ bishops calling for people to be mindful of their attitude at Christmas, with love of neighbour taking precedence over consumerism. There’s also a bit of fun around Pope Francis’s other end-of-year awards. Happy Christmas from the team at The 15th Station.
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Station XV: Episode 74 — The Pope, the Cardinals and Lesus Christ
Is the Church about to become a democracy? And a democracy that has women cardinals, no less? Your answers to those questions will depend on which news sources you’ve been reading over the past few weeks. Pope Francis is surveying dioceses and parishes to get some insight into family life in preparation for next year’s synod on the topic, and there’s been conjecture he’ll appoint women cardinals at his first consistory in February. What we do know is that a Latin American cardinal thinks New Zealand should have a louder voice in Rome, a $20,000 bathtub isn’t a great idea and someone forgot to proofread some new Vatican coins. Join James, Don and Gavin for this month’s show.
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Station XV: Episode 73 — Interviews, intervention and interlocution
It was one of the most newsworthy moments of Pope Francis’s pontificate — the interview heard around the world. When the Holy Father sat down with fellow Jesuit priest Fr Antonio Spadaro, the two discussed a wide range of topics, and much of what was spoken about became water-cooler conversation around the world. James, Don and Gavin chat about that interview, Pope Francis’s intervention to save lives in Argentina a couple of decades ago and Pope Benedict’s decision to write a letter to a journalist who had questioned the former Pope’s efforts to combat abuse. Those stories and more in this month’s episode of The 15th Station.
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Station XV: Episode 72 — Special prayers, special appointment, special guest
Four years after his last appearance, Father Roderick Vonhogen returns to Rendition Studios for this month’s episode of The 15th Station. Along with James, Shannon and Gavin, topics for discussion include Pope Francis leading a day of prayer and fasting for Syria, the Holy Father’s appointment of a new secretary of state and efforts in New Zealand to address youth unemployment. Two religious orders kissing and making up and the papal “selfie” are also on the list of topics. Enjoy the show — and tell you friends about The 15th Station š
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Station XV: Episode 71 — It’s our birthday; let us eat cake
It’s hard to believe that it’s six years since The 15th Station sprung into life in a small office in Auckland, but the crew invites SQPN legend Steve Nelson into Rendition Studios to share in the birthday celebration. The remarkable events of World Youth Day in Rio, andĀ the subsequent unremarkable commentsĀ on the flight backĀ that generated headlines around the world, dominate this month’s episode. James, Don, Shannon, Steve and Gavin also talk aboutĀ Lumen Fidei, the joint Francis/Benedict encyclical, a doctor who has an interesting philosophy on prescribing contraceptives and the impending canonisation of Popes John Paul II and John XXIII. Even the light story has an unusually serious discussion. Thanks for listening to this episode, and any of the other 70 shows in this podcast and however many of the other shows in the network. You guys are great.
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Station XV: Episode 70 — Pastors, princes and Pope Francis
With the panel down on numbers and an early recording date, it’s a more concise episode of The 15th Station this month as James and Gavin discuss some of the big stories of the month, including Pope Francis’s desire for bishops to be more pastor than prince, the idea of the Church reclaiming the word “matrimony” as marriage is redefined in various jurisdictions and we take a look at the first meeting of arguably the two most important Christian leaders in the world — Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury. We said “arguably”. Other big stories from the month, including the upcoming canonisations and the new encyclical, will feature in next month’s podcast.
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Station XV: Episode 69 — Catholics, Atheists and Nudists
Can atheists get to heaven? Can a group of Catholics call their Catholic group “Catholic”? Can Pope Francis continue his charmed run with the media when he makes his first overseas trip next month? Can Catholics still be members of the Boy Scouts of America? And can someone without any pants parody the Pope? A series of fascinating questions — and some interesting answers — on this month’s episode with James, Helen, Don and Gavin. And if you’re looking for John Allen’s preview (mentioned in the show) of the challenge facing Pope Francis ahead of World Youth Day, you can find it here.
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Station XV: Episode 68 — Church expands, and so does definition of marriage
In the May 2013 episode of The 15th Station, James, Helen, Don and Gavin talk about the latest statistics that show the Catholic Church is growing faster than the rate of population growth, and the number of seminarians, priests and bishops is growing with it. Another thing that’s growing is the number of relationships New Zealanders can consider marriage, with the passage of legislation allowing same-sex marriage. Some of the arguments against such moves are outlined in this piece, What is Marriage?, which Don mentions in the show. The panel also discusses Pope Francis’s upcoming trip to South America, the Church’s view on economic matters and the story that’s gone viral — a three-year-old Colombian boy who celebrates Mass.
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Station XV: Episode 67 — Speaking frankly about Francis
It’s been just over a month since Pope Francis took the helm of the Barque of Peter as leader of the Catholic Church. In this month’s episode, papal musings dominate the show, with Helen, James, Don and Gavin talking about his first Easter Triduum, his first discussion of the sexual abuse crisis and also the Argentinian connection — tenuous as it may be — between Pope Francis and Diego Maradona. The panel also chats about the likely passage of same-sex marriage legislation in New Zealand. Could anything stop it from becoming law?
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