The 15th Station

After a one-week hiatus, Brendan and Gavin catch up on some of the big stories in US politics, culture and religion. They include the changing face of the presidential election, as criticisms mount of President Barack Obama, even from “friendly” ... The post The View from Down Here: June 6, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

With there now being a two-horse race for the presidential campaign, President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney have started what will be a lengthy battle of advertisements making the case for their nomination — or against their opponent. Brendan ... The post The View from Down Here: May 22, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

What is the New Zealand Government thinking in offering free long-term contraception to women on welfare? What is President Obama thinking in announcing he supports gay marriage in the middle of an election campaign? When will the euthanasia lobby stop ... The post Station XV: Episode 56 — Contraception, contradiction, conjugal relations and confusion appeared first on The 15th Station .

One story — and one story only — seems to have dominated the US political and cultural scene over the past week, and that’s President Barack Obama’s announcement that his position on same-sex marriage has now evolved and he supports ... The post The View from Down Here: May 15, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

With Newt Gingrich dropping out of the Republican presidential race, it’s essentially become a head-to-head battle between President Barack Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney with six months to go until the general election. And it continues to be ... The post The View from Down Here: May 8, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

Religion and politics collide on a fairly grand scale in this week’s episode of The View from Down Here. Brendan and Gavin chat about the Illinois bishop who has strongly criticised President Obama — only to see a secular group ... The post The View from Down Here: April 24, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

This week’s episode is brought to you by the word “drop”, as in Rick Santorum drops out of the Republican primary race, a Democratic strategist drops the ball in her party’s alleged affinity with women, and President Obama’s staff drop ... The post The View from Down Here: April 17, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

A new study suggests many young New Zealanders might be becoming more religious while other peers are turning away from faith. Which will win out? The panel discusses that research and analyses the possible impact of Pope Benedict’s trip to ... The post Station XV: Episode 55 — Faith revivals in New Zealand and Cuba? appeared first on The 15th Station .

In this week’s episode, Brendan and Gavin talk about the big news of the past week — President Obama’s comments about the possible fate of his health care legislation as the Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality. What does it ... The post The View from Down Here: April 10, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

It’s just Brendan and Gavin again this week, and there’s a long list of stories to cover. After a quick chat on the primaries and on Ron Paul and his curious inability to attract Catholic voters, we navigate through atheist ... The post The View from Down Here: April 3, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

With Tim “on assignment”, Brendan and Gavin chat about some of the big stories of the week, including trouble brewing for President Obama’s health care reforms, the latest primary results and what they mean, and two controversies — a priest ... The post The View from Down Here: March 27, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

The View from Down Here returns with a full slate of topics to cover, including a quick update on the state of the Republican primary season, the US soldier accused of killing 16 Afghanis and some analysis of President Obama’s ... The post The View from Down Here: March 20, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

It’s another intriguing episode of Station 15, as we explore the role of bishops in industrial disputes, Jesus’ ability to heal diseases and the Pope’s upcoming trip to Cuba, not to mention one of the most frivolous court cases you ... The post Station XV: Episode 54 — Bishops, Billboards and Baptists appeared first on The 15th Station .

On the eve of Super Tuesday, the three self-proclaimed experts on American politics and culture break down the current state of play in the Republican primary contest as Mitt Romney looks to continue the momentum he gained in a series ... The post The View from Down Here: March 6, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

In the second episode of The View from Down Here, Brendan, Tim and Gavin revisit the Republican primary contest and, in particular, look at Ron Paul, the congressman from Texas. Is he being ignored by the media? Does he have ... The post The View from Down Here: February 28, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

In the newest show in the Station 15 stable, Brendan and Tim Malone, from Christchurch, NZ, speak with fellow New Zealander Gavin Abraham, now based in Australia, on some of the big stories in the United States that straddle the ... The post The View from Down Here: February 21, 2012 appeared first on The 15th Station .

The panel this month analyses the contentious provisions in President Obama’s health care legislation requiring Catholic hospitals and institutions to provide health insurance covering contraception and sterilisation procedures*, efforts by Auckland businessmen to open a 15-storey brothel in the central ... The post Station XV: Episode 53 — New legislation, new brothel (?) new partners...

In the first episode of 2012, the panel chats about Pope Benedict’s speech to bishops from New Zealand and the Pacific, his speech to the dozens of ambassadors to the Vatican and the surging Catholic candidate for the Republican presidential ... The post Station 15: Episode 52 — Pope speaks to NZ bishops…and the world appeared first on The 15th Station .

In this month’s episode of The 15th Station, the two-man panel of James and Gavin connects from each side of the Tasman Sea to discuss some of the big stories of the past month. The New Zealand bishops are in ... The post Station XV: Episode 51 — Happy news, smiling Pope, Happy Christmas appeared first on The 15th Station .

In this, the 50th episode of The 15th Station, the panel discusses the upcoming New Zealand general election, including the views of the two main parties’ leaders on a contentious moral issue, as well as changes to the closeness of ... The post Station XV: Episode 50 — Elections, succession and ammunition appeared first on The 15th Station .

In this month’s episode of The 15th Station, our transTasman panel talks about Pope Benedict’s recent trip to his homeland, the uncertainty over Christchurch’s Catholic cathedral and the hype surrounding the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. We also touch ... The post Station XV: Episode 49 — Pope goes home, St Steve Jobs? appeared first on The 15th Station .

In this week’s episode of The 15th Station, the panel spans the Tasman Sea — and so do the stories up for discussion. In Australia, a senator has used parliamentary privilege to name a priest accused of rape 50 years ... The post Station XV: Episode 48 — Name and shame, wine and dine appeared first on The 15th Station .

Is it a place of fire and brimstone, or wailing and gnashing of teeth? Is it a place that is simply an absence of God? Whatever the reality, the Catholic Church continues to hold to the idea of a place ... The post 15 Minutes with the Bishop: Hell appeared first on The 15th Station .

Over the next two days, the Catholic Church honours a couple of great figures in Christian history: St Augustine and his mother, St Monica. St Augustine is often seen as a bit of a prodigal son — someone who strayed ... The post 15 Minutes with the Bishop: Augustine and Monica appeared first on The 15th Station .

Last week, Catholics in New Zealand celebrated the Feast of the Assumption, and last week’s episode of 15 Minutes with the Bishop was on that topic. This week, Bishop Patrick talks about holy days of obligation, of which the Assumption ... The post 15 Minutes with the Bishop: Holy Days appeared first on The 15th Station .