The 15th Station

As New Zealanders prepare to vote in their national election, the issue of abortion — and the views of the Catholic Prime Minister — were put front and centre. Meanwhile, Pope Francis is seeking to empower local bishops’ conferences and ... The post Station XV: Episode 119 — Electing, Protecting, Translating, Counting and Baptising appeared first on The 15th Station .

As The 15th Station celebrates its 10th birthday, there’s time for a little trip down memory lane and a chance to welcome back some friends — old and new. But it’s not all reminiscing, with several big stories to discuss. In ... The post Station XV: Episode 118 — 10 Years, 118 Shows, One Church appeared first on The 15th Station .

Pope Francis has offered the influential world leaders at the G-20 summit some important reflections, including on their responsibility to look after their own people, as well as their brothers and sisters around the world. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops ... The post Station XV: Episode 117 — Election, Collection, Reflection and Connection appeared first on The 15th Station .

All eyes will be on the Vatican later this month when Pope Francis plays host to President Donald Trump, with the discussion predicted to cover some uncomfortable territory for the latter. Closer to home, New Zealand Catholic education leaders are ... The post Station XV: Episode 116 — Francis, Fatima, Faith and Fairness appeared first on The 15th Station .

On the eve of Easter, the Christian community in Egypt was rocked by another deadly attack on their places of worship, with dozens killed and dozens more injured during services on Palm Sunday. The attacks came as the Middle East, ... The post Station XV: Episode 115 — Easter sorrows and joys appeared first on The 15th Station .

Pope Francis — not for the first time — features prominently in this month’s episode of The 15th Station. He’s going to examine the possibility of ordaining married men to help address priest shortages in some remote parts of the ... The post Station XV: Episode 114 — Priests, poverty, parishes, policy and a pooch appeared first on The 15th Station .

It’s been a manic first (almost) month in the Trump presidency, and the US bishops have been both praising and criticising the President. In Australia, the bishops have been more focused on repentance, as damning statistics emerge about the extent ... The post Station XV: Episode 113 — Praise, criticism, tragedies and comedy appeared first on The 15th Station .

Pope Francis has expressed optimism that 2017 can be a good year while also acknowledging the deadly start to the year in Turkey and the challenge of people embracing peace and rejecting hatred. The Pope has also called for bishops ... The post Station XV: Episode 112 — New year, new approach, new relationship, new lyrics appeared first on The 15th Station .

Two big stories from New Zealand lead off the Christmas episode of The 15th Station. Following the surprise resignation of Prime Minister John Key, Bill English became the latest Catholic to hold the position, saying his faith is a big part ... The post Station XV: Episode 111 — Politicians, Trailblazers, Questioners, Refugees and Sinners appeared first on The 15th Station .

The remarkable and unexpected election of Donald Trump highlights this month’s episode, with stories about the voting patterns of Catholic and Evangelicals and the hope for shared priorities with the Catholic Church and the President-Elect. Pope Francis’s affirmation of the ... The post Station XV: Episode 110 — Voting, Governing, Ordaining, Building and Writing appeared first on...

The longest — and most negative — presidential campaign in history is coming to a close. Don, James and Gavin talk about the Pope’s advice for US voters: Study the policies, pray and vote your conscience. Where does that leave ... The post Station XV: Episode 109 — Elections, Episcopacy, Elevation, Ecumenism and Exorcism appeared first on The 15th Station .

The canonisation of Mother Teresa — now St Teresa of Calcutta — was the big news story of the month, and it takes top billing in this episode of The 15th Station. But news of two Popes isn’t too far ... The post Station XV: Episode 108 — Popes, Saints, Veeps and Zuck appeared first on The 15th Station .

It’s the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady — so that means it’s our birthday. The 15th Station celebrates nine years of podcasting with a show that opens with the shocking story of an elderly French priest’s murder at ... The post Station XV: Episode 107 — Making Assumptions on our 9th birthday appeared first on The 15th Station .

What Pope Francis said about Christians’ attitudes to homosexuals and what he did about the prospect of priests celebrating Mass ad orientem feature prominently in this month’s episode of The 15th Station. Don, James and Gavin also speak about the demographic ... The post Station XV: Episode 106 — Bishops, Popes, Politicians and Pokemon appeared first on The 15th Station .

Somewhat recurrent themes on The 15th Station — clerical abuse and the state of the US presidential race — show their face again in this month’s episode. Pope Francis has taken steps to make the removal of negligent bishops more ... The post Station XV: Episode 105 — Negligence, Tolerance, Intolerance and Holiness appeared first on The 15th Station .

Pope Francis can’t seem to stay out of the headlines, but it’s mostly for positive reasons that he’s in the media in the first place. Pope Francis’s gesture — which he says wasn’t political — to bring 12 Syrians back ... The post Station XV: Episode 104 — Pope, Pope, President, Pope and Pasta appeared first on The 15th Station .

The Pope’s apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia leads off this month’s episode and — spoiler alert — there are some strong feelings on the document. Pope Francis’s Holy Thursday initiative to wash the feet of refugees of different faiths and the ... The post Station XV: Episode 103 — Communion, Commission, Closures and Contributions appeared first on The 15th S...

There are many reasons for doom and gloom when considering this month’s lineup of topics — none more so than reflecting on the murder of four Missionaries of Charity in Yemen. They are “today’s martyrs”, Pope Francis said, and it’s hard ... The post Station XV: Episode 102 — Madonna, martyrs, madness and metal appeared first on The 15th Station .

It’s a mix of joy and sadness in Episode 101 of The 15th Station. The sadness comes from the passing of Christchurch Bishop Barry Jones, who died last week after suffering a number of strokes and a heart attack. James, ... The post Station XV: Episode 101 — Pope, Patriarch, Penance and Passing Away appeared first on The 15th Station .

Eight-and-a-half years after it all began, the little podcast that could reached its 100th episode this month, and it was a full studio and a full show to mark the occasion. The Queen sends congratulations to people who turn 100; ... The post Station XV: Episode 100 — Royalty, Recognition, Reprimands and Reminiscing appeared first on The 15th Station .

It’s fair to say Pope Francis is dominating headlines around the world, so he’s doing the same on The 15th Station. Whether it’s the opening of the Jubilee Door – and Year of Mercy – or his calling for swift ... The post Station XV: Episode 99 – Wall to (almost) wall Pope Francis appeared first on The 15th Station .

Pope Francis isn’t going to let the Vatican leaks and the associated scandals slow down his papacy — and he’s told some of Italy’s Church leaders as much in a major speech. It’s maybe that attitude or just Francis’s demeanour, ... The post Station XV: Episode 98 — Scandals, Surveys, Synods, Saints and Sinners appeared first on The 15th Station .

The second episode of the Synod on the Family — and comments from Pope Francis and a New Zealand lay woman — set the stage for this month’s episode of The 15th Station. Francis’s trip to the United States and ... The post Station XV: Episode 97 — On Synod, Scripture and Sacking appeared first on The 15th Station .

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 ... The post Station XV: Episode 96 — On Syria, sins, shopping and scaring appeared first on The 15th Station .

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 ... The post Station XV: Episode 95 — Pope, Polls, Polar Priests and Pasta appeared first on The 15th Station .