Station XV: Episode 96 — On Syria, sins, shopping and scaring
The Syrian refugee crisis has dominated the world news, and it rightly leads this month’s episode of the podcast, including the reaction of the Pope and Catholic bishops around the world. Thankfully, governments around the world have responded to pressure from those leaders, and there is increasing support for those in such difficult circumstances. Other big stories from around the Catholic world include the Pope’s announced changes to absolution laws and annulment procedures, the New Zealand Government’s changes to Easter shopping laws and Donald Trump’s ideas about “scaring” Pope Francis. If that’s got you stressed out, maybe a relaxing nap atop a 55-metre-high wind turbine might be just what you need. Enjoy the show.
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Station XV: Episode 95 — Pope, Polls, Polar Priests and Pasta
Pope Francis’s summer has surely been soured (#sarcasm) by new polls in the United States that show his popularity is waning across the board — with conservatives and progressives alike not as enamoured with the Pontiff as they were a year ago. The poll comes a few weeks before his visit to the US. When it comes to Antarctica, though, there won’t be any more visits from Catholic priests, with money and a lack of demand seeing an end to New Zealand priests ministering on The Ice. In other news, the divorced and remarried debate continues and a Kiwi priest with a colourful past gets an important international gig. But it’s the papal declaration on the secret to happiness that has Lucy, Don, James and Gavin really excited. Enjoy the episode.
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Station XV: Episode 93 — On Popes, the planet, populations and pitying (the fool)
In this month’s episode, the upcoming papal encyclical on ecology and the environment, to be released on June 18, takes top billing. As Vatican-watcher John Allen points out, there are likely to be a number of false claims in the media when Laudato Sii is released. The panel — James, Helen, Don and Gavin — also talk about the changing demographics of Kiwis, new measures to hold bishops accountable for failing to protect children and the “Yes” vote to same-sex marriage in Ireland. And the show ends with a reflection on TV’s 1980s hard man Mr T and his Christian faith. Enjoy the show.
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Station XV: Episode 90 — Confrontation, assassination and reconciliation
Lucy, James and Gavin offer their musings on the big Catholic stories of the month, and in New Zealand, the biggest story was the New Zealand bishops quickly and publicly pledging their support for the Government’s decision to send military personnel to the Middle East to help train those who are fighting against Islamic State/IS/ISIS/ISIL. As the violence and barbaric acts escalates, the bishops said people “can no longer watch on from the sidelines”, and echoing comments from Pope Francis on the threat of Islamic State. The Pope makes two other appearances in the show, talking about the possibility he could be assassinated, and also for his decision to allow a homeless man to be buried inside the Vatican. Back in New Zealand, there are concerns about the sanctity of the confessional. All that and more in this month’s episode of The 15th Station.
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Station XV: Episode 87 — ‘Tis the season…
Advent is a busy season for the Church, and that includes the Station 15 panel. Working through this month’s full slate of topics are James, Lucy, Don, Gavin and — returning after many years — Gabriel. Pope Francis is the central figure in the episode, led by his first episcopal appointment in New Zealand, but followed closely by his comments on Islamic terrorism and his advice to theologians: “Listen to the people.” The panel also discusses parish amalgamations in New Zealand, following an international trend, and the vexed question “Would you baptise an alien?” Happy Christmas from the Station 15 crew.
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Station XV: Episode 86 — On synods, struggling, science and shonkiness
The Synod on the Family — or Part 1 of the Synod, at least — has continued to dominate headlines in the Church, including in New Zealand, where the lone Archbishop, Wellington’s John Dew, continues to be a strong proponent of changes to the pastoral care of Catholics who have divorced and remarried. Don, James and Gavin pick up the conversation on the controversial topic, and also discuss the unrest among some senior bishops and cardinals, as well as the allegedly groundbreaking moment of a Pope saying evolution might be real! Quelle horreur! There’s also the actually groundbreaking comments of Prince Charles on persecuted Christians and the latest “Jesus was married” conspiracy. Enjoy the show — and if you do, why not invite a friend to listen too?
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Station XV: Episode 82 — Victims, Venerable, Villains and Victors
In the July 2014 episode of The 15th Station, Lucy, James and Gavin venture from the sad to the joyous, the sacramental to the sporting, the saintly to the shady. Pope Francis’s meeting with sex abuse victims, the promotion of Baptism for students in Catholic schools and the Pope’s excommunication of the mafia are all covered in this show. The panel also covers the papal World Cup Final — between Benedict’s Germany and Francis’s Argentina — and discusses the efforts that may lead to New Zealand’s first saint. Learn more about the film How Far is Heaven by clicking here.
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Station XV: Episode 81 — Harmony, Celibacy, Inequality
Pope Francis has been grabbing headlines again this month, not only for his trip to Israel and Palestine, but also for his hosting of a prayer meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Vatican. That leads this month’s episode, and Helen, James and Gavin also talk about inequality in New Zealand, the inhumane treatment of refugees and asylum seekers trying to find a new home in Australia and about a group of women in Italy who want the Pope to drop the pesky celibacy rule that’s stopping them from being able to marry the priests they’ve fallen in love with. And if that’s not enough, we’ve got the Football World Cup, Christ the Redeemer and a betting agency to round out the show. Send us feedback at podcast@station15.co.nz
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Station XV: Episode 80 — Saints, popes, bishops, sisters and podcasters
What podcast in the past three weeks would be complete without discussion of “Four Popes Sunday” — the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II by Pope Francis, with Pope Benedict on hand? Not this one, so Helen, James and Gavin lead with that momentous story, and continue the show with discussion of a bishops’ gathering in New Zealand, a meeting between the Vatican and some American religious sisters and an historic meeting of a New Zealand leader and Pope Francis. We also talk about drug trafficking. A typically diverse and entertaining show, we think you’ll find.
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Station XV: Episode 78 — Alarms, anniversaries and alcohol
It’s March 15 — so we’re in the week marking the anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. The interview the Holy Father conducted recently is a topic for discussion, along with the latest statistics on Catholics in New Zealand — nominal and practising — and the promotion of Cardinal George Pell to head the Vatican’s new economic secretariat. James, Helen and Gavin also talk about a small New Zealand town fighting the departure of a group of religious sisters, as well as the drinking habits of those who live at the Vatican. Thanks for listening; tell your friends.
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