Station XV: Episode 144 — Canberra, Rome, Amazon, Wellington, Whangamomona
The Station 15 crew was in the courtroom for one of the biggest announcements in the Church’s legal history, as the High Court of Australia agreed that it would hear arguments why Cardinal George Pell’s child sexual abuse convictions should be overturned. It wasn’t quite that exciting for the New Zealand bishops, but they recently made their Ad Limina visit to Rome, meeting with Pope Francis and his key advisers. The bishops were there as the much-reported Synod on the Amazon unfolded, but it was hard to find the facts among the hysteria. Back in New Zealand, there’s a push from a Maori organisation to get Pope Francis to apologise for the Church’s role in colonising the country back in the 19th century. Things have been a bit quieter in Whangamomona, where a 100-year-old Catholic church has seen its last hurrah — as a place of Catholic worship, at least. A typically diverse episode awaits.
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Station XV: Episode 139 — Cardinal, Pope, Politician, King
Cardinal George Pell was convicted last December on child sexual abuse charges. The panel discusses his appeal process, which unfolded this month (without an outcome) and what might happen next. In Italy, changes to the translation of the Our Father have caused some consternation — mostly in English-speaking countries, where no change is expected. In New Zealand, a proudly Catholic MP has worn his faith on his sleeve in his first speech in Parliament, while the Maori King, visiting the Vatican, has invited Pope Francis to come to New Zealand. Maybe that can happen with the Holy Spirit’s help, assuming said Spirit isn’t too busy assisting drivers in Europe. That’ll make sense when you listen to the show.
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Station XV: Episode 138 — Sri Lanka, Paris, Israel and the Vatican
There are some heavy topics to cover this month, with Anna, Don, James and Gavin discussing the horrific Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka, the heroism that emerged from the Notre Dame fire and the battle over religious freedom in Australia. Pope Francis has also issued new guidelines on investigating and reporting child sexual abuse. Do they go far enough? And this month’s “light” story shows that even good deeds can sometimes have negative unintended consequences. Thanks for joining us for another episode of The 15th Station.
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Station XV: Episode 137 — Future Church, future leaders, future laws, future Easter
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
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 130 — Abolition, Resignation, Sanctification, Vocation and CELEBRATION!!
There are many serious topics on this month’s agenda, but the episode starts with a celebration of 11 years of The 15th Station. The reminiscing gives way to the important discussion of a change to the Church’s official teaching on the death penalty and the resignations of two senior Catholic leaders. Despite the challenges the Church is facing in many places, Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn has urged young people to strive for holiness, which is what an Irish priest is also hoping will be a fruit of Pope Francis’ upcoming trip to the country this month. Join Anna, James and Gavin for our birthday episode — and if you want to give us a birthday present, tell your friends about the show 🙂
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