Station XV: Episode 171 – Data, Papa, Papa, Data, Pater
It’s not the most uplifting line-up of stories, but the panel tackles a range of important topics this month. In New Zealand, data has been released on abuse within the Church, as well as on the number of people accessing euthanasia now that it has been legalised. On the other side of the world, Pope Benedict has sought forgiveness for the way the Church handled abuse, including while Archbishop of Munich, and Pope Francis has prayed for peace between Ukraine and Russia. Anna, Don, James and Gavin conclude on a musical note, marking the death of Australian Mercy Sister Janet Mead, whose rock version of the Our Father was a hit in the 1970s.
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Station XV: Episode 161 — Sorrow, Surety, Suffering, Shrine
New Zealand’s Royal Commission into abuse in care continues to dominate the Church’s agenda, with Cardinal John Dew issuing an apology on behalf of dioceses and religious orders. In Rome, there has been some clarity offered around the Church’s inability to bless same-sex unions, as well as a plea for greater openness to support people affected by environmental challenges. Back in New Zealand, the country will be re-dedicated to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven on her feast day this August, following a pilgrimage through the country. And in “entertainment news”, it appears the Borat sequel might have had a positive impact on one Christian community that was the butt of the mockumentary’s jokes. Another month, another journey around the Catholic world with Anna, Don, James and Gavin.
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Station XV: Episode 141 — Happy birthday, unhappy topics
As The 15th Station team celebrates its 12th birthday, it’s not an entirely happy occasion as topics like abortion, an earthquake-ravaged cathedral, mass shootings and clerical sexual abuse all feature in one way or another. Although that probably reflects some of the more regular topics that the show has covered during those years. Join Anna, Don, James and Gavin as they review those stories and reflect on 12 years of podcasting. And thanks for being part of the Station 15 family over these years.
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Station XV: Episode 136 — Sentence, Summit, Sacrifice and Signature
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
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
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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Station XV: Episode 132 — Investigation, Implementation, Immigration and Invocation
After lobbying from the Catholic Church and others, the New Zealand Government’s inquiry into child sexual abuse in institutions will include faith-based organisations. In the US, the Bishops have delayed implementing new abuse protocols after the Vatican asked them to wait until after the February gathering of presidents of bishops’ conferences. Also in Rome, the Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment concluded with calls for the Church to listen more carefully to youth and for young people to trust Church leaders — despite acknowledgements some leaders haven’t always been worthy of that trust. Anna, Gavin and James also consider the case of a Melbourne mum in immigration detention that can’t have her child baptised in a nearby church. In Florida, meanwhile, a church has been barred from serving as an election place in future after the pastor got a bit too political. All in a month’s work for the 15th Station crew!
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Station XV: Episode 131 — Convention, Confession, Confusion and Consternation
It’s a fairly heavy — and sombre — episode of The 15th Station this month, as Anna, James and Gavin survey the fairly challenging landscape for Catholics in most parts of the world, as the sexual abuse crisis continues to loom large over this era and this papacy. Pope Francis has called a meeting of the presidents of bishops’ conferences, while the Church in Australia has responded to the forensic examination it (and other institutions) received during the Royal Commission. In New Zealand, voices are being raised to defeat euthanasia legislation and there are new stats about annulments — but what do they mean? And, in the Czech Republic, what do spooky, ghostly figures in a Catholic church mean?
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Station XV: Episode 129 — Confession, Concession, Courts and Confusion
The Catholic Church in New Zealand and Australia is under pressure to change the way it approaches the seal of Confession, with governments in both countries wondering if removing the seal would stem child sexual abuse. Bishops in both countries have a clear answer: “No.” In the US, President Trump is pushing ahead with his second Supreme Court nominee in Catholic Brett Kavanaugh. Another president, Filipino Rodrigo Duterte, is also making headlines for his name-calling and his curious theology, while the NZ bishops are also wondering how their theology is helping (or hurting) the Church’s evangelisation efforts. A Baptist church, however, is just wondering how they can show the face — and body — of Jesus to the world, literally. Join Anna, James and Gavin for this month’s episode of The 15th Station.
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Station XV: Episode 128 — Conviction, Courage, Communion and Commando (priest)
The conviction of an Australian archbishop of failing to disclose child sexual abuse leads this month’s show, with Anna, James and Gavin seeking to navigate the complex case of Archbishop Philip Wilson. In New Zealand, in Rome and in South America, there’s a call for courage — among Kiwi seminarians, but also among those seeking to find solutions to the priestly shortage in places like the Amazon. Pope Francis has called for the German bishops to think again about their plans to allow inter-Communion for the spouses of Catholics, while in the US, a priest is showing off his spirit, as well as his physical gifts, in the show Ninja Warrior. It’s another eclectic journey through the Catholic Church.
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