The 15th Station is our monthly news podcast. We get a panel of Kiwi Catholics together to provide a Catholic perspective on the news and current events of the month.
Station XV: Episode 137 — Future Church, future leaders, future laws, future Easter
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It’s Holy Week, and the panel reflects on Pope Francis’ call for Catholics to be humble in their lives and to know when it’s appropriate to keep silent. Campaigners against euthanasia in New Zealand have certainly not been quiet as they seek to bring an end to efforts to legislate for the practice. Back in Rome, Pope Francis has written to young people and given them encouragement to embrace the faith, something Cardinal John Dew is trying to do in Wellington as the Church goes through some significant changes. The non-robotic group of Anna, Don, James and Gavin usher you through those topics and more.
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Station XV: Episode 136 — Sentence, Summit, Sacrifice and Signature
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The conviction and sentencing of Australian Cardinal George Pell dominates this month’s episode, with Anna, Don, James and Gavin grappling with the complexities of the case and a range of emotions. The show also looks at the Vatican summit on child protection and the Pope’s Lenten message for 2019. The panel considers the dearth of “local” vocations to the priesthood in New Zealand and wonders what to make of Donald Trump signing Bibles in Alabama. Spanning the globe and a broad range of topics on this month’s 15th Station.
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Station XV: Episode 135 — Expectation, Celebration, Protestation and Cooperation
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With the presidents of bishops conferences from across the world descending on the Vatican next week, the panel looks at the upcoming child protection summit and what we might expect. Pope Francis has returned for the summit after spending five days in Panama for World Youth Day, which attracted hundreds of thousands of people. In the South Pacific, serious concerns have been raised about the treatment of asylum-seekers currently living in Papua New Guinea, while in Fiji, the appointment of Catholic school principals caused a rift between the Church and the government. Thankfully, there’s news that religious people are more likely to be happy, so Anna, James and Gavin can at least rejoice in that. Enjoy the show.
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Station XV: Episode 134 — Security, Celibacy, Identity and Charity
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The Church in the United States, New Zealand and Germany is grappling with a number of big issues, with the southern US border and the impending New Zealand Royal Commission into child sexual abuse headlining this month’s show. The German bishops are looking at the issue of celibacy, framing their rethink of the discipline as a response to the abuse crisis. In New Zealand, Catholic schools are trying to find authentic, pastoral responses to the issue of gender dysphoria, while back in America, a priest is enjoying spreading some Christmas joy — all year long. Join Anna, James and Gavin, and the returning Don, for this globetrotting episode.
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