Michael Sean Winters

Michael Sean Winters is the author of Left At the Altar: How Democrats Lost The Catholics And How Catholics Can Save The Democrats (Basic Books, 2008). His biography of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, God's Right Hand: How Jerry Falwell Made God a Republican and Baptized the American Right was published by Harper One in January 2012 to critical acclaim. 

By this Author

The Book of the Gospels in Latin is seen in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 6. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Links: Latin love, a more just economy and Trump lapdogs

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Kaveny's splendid tribute to Foster; build back a more just economy, or risk a return to Trumpism; a successful effort against gentrification in D.C.

Detail of a portrait of Cornelius Jansen (1585-1638), painted circa 1700 (Wikimedia Commons/Museum Catharijneconvent/Ruben de Heer)

Biden, Communion and the functional schism in the US church

Distinctly Catholic: George Weigel's praise of Archbishop Gomez's churlish Inauguration Day statement invites historical comparison to the 17th-century threat of Jansenism. Weigel is flirting with the stuff of schism.

The Oval Office at the White House in Washington Jan. 21, 2021 (CNS/Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

Links: Canceling untruths; censures show which way the wind blows

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Sen. Rand Paul won't say the election wasn't stolen; Sen. Josh Hawley howls about being silenced while on front page; our national hymn, a discussion

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Biden's wife, Jill, holds the family Bible during his inauguration Jan. 20 at the Capitol in Washington. (CNS/Jim Bourg, Reuters)

Massimo Faggioli's book on Biden and Catholicism explains our critical moment

Distinctly Catholic: Joe Biden and Catholicism in the United States explains the context of this hopeful moment when President Biden and Pope Francis can make common cause on several issues. Get this book.

Joe Biden greets Jesuit Fr. Leo O'Donovan during Biden's inauguration as the 46th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Jan. 20, 2021. (CNS/Reuters pool/Patrick Semansky)

Bishops throw cold water on the most Catholic inauguration in history

Distinctly Catholic: President Joe Biden's inaugural address was a better articulation of Catholic ideas about governance than any recent document from the U.S. bishops' conference.

National Guard members gather at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 12, 2021, in Washington. (CNS/Erin Scott, Reuters)

Links: Preventing future Trumpism; smart, moral advice for Biden

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Hopeful ideas for the singular task of politics today; Ohio's former attorney general urges the new president to go big

President-elect Joe Biden is seen on a monitor in the White House Briefing Room Jan. 6, making remarks regarding the supporters of President Donald Trump, who breached security barriers at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington and interrupted the certif

Biden should focus on his role of head of state to unite the country

Commentary: Donald Trump had no grasp of the value of democracy and no ability to employ the symbolic power of his job to fulfill his responsibility as head of state. Joe Biden needs to fill that void.

Workers in Washington place Biden-Harris inauguration banners on the inaugural parade viewing stand across from the White House Jan. 14. (CNS/Erin Scott, Reuters)

Links: Inaugural addresses, Biden's Catholicism and a warty pig

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Michael Sean Winters on what he considers the only three truly great inaugural addresses in U.S. history.

The inaugural ceremony of John F. Kennedy, Jan. 20, 1961 (Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division/Architect of the Capitol)

Biden and Kennedy: History does not repeat itself

Distinctly Catholic: The day of Biden's inauguration will also be the 60th anniversary of the first time a Catholic became president. Much has changed in church and state. What, then, is the value of historical analogy?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., shows the article of impeachment against President Donald Trump after signing it in an engrossment ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Jan. 13, 2021. (CNS/Reuters/Leah Millis)

Impeaching Trump (again) was easy compared to defeating Trumpism

Distinctly Catholic: Those who care about the future of the republic need to be politically adept, not just morally right. We cannot risk a repeat.

Demonstrators are seen near the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, to show their opposition to the death penalty July 13, 2020. (CNS/Bryan Woolston, Reuters)

Links: Bloodlust of the 'most pro-life president'; Congress' guilty members

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Lisa Montgomery's execution was judicial murder; Biden team's efforts for 2022 midterms; impeachment may be insufficient; workers fight back

National Guard troops are seen on patrol at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Jan. 9, 2021. (CNS/Tyler Orsburn)

Reckoning with our national flirtation with fascism

Distinctly Catholic: We do not know — and God willing will never be forced to find out — the lengths to which Donald Trump would have gone to preserve his power, but trials must put what did happen Jan. 6 on record.

A reflecting pool is seen near the U.S. Capitol Jan. 9 in Washington. (CNS/Tyler Orsburn)

Links: Moral relativism after Capitol coup, liturgical law and a rogue priest

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: After last week's attack, moral relativism that doesn't pass smell test; Arroyo projects on Fox News; and a beautiful spiritual reflection

Elon Musk at an update on Neuralink brain implant technology, Aug. 28, 2020 (Flickr/Steve Jurvetson)

How to redirect populist anger? Enact alternative minimum corporate tax

Distinctly Catholic: As the U.S. government is in transition, if liberals leave the populist instinct to conservatives, we can expect Trumpism to be back. It is clear what a liberal populism should focus on: narrowing economic inequality.

Links: Georgia Senate results, the Electoral College and working-class voters

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Georgia Senate results; How the Republican Party went feral; GOP's efforts to overturn election results; marketing to working-class voters

Law enforcement officers push back against supporters of President Donald Trump attempting to enter the U.S. Capitol in Washington Jan. 6, 2020, during a protest against the certification of the 2020 presidential election. (CNS/Jim Urquhart, Reuters)

No one has a right to be surprised about the Capitol violence

Distinctly Catholic: President Trump has been inciting violence for weeks. His sycophants in the Republican Party, Fox News and EWTN have repeated his nonsensical allegations. His supporters were listening.

Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, celebrates Christmas Eve Mass Dec. 24, 2020, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles. (CNS/Victor Alemán, Angelus News)

Looking ahead to 2021 in the life of the church in the US

Distinctly Catholic: 2020 taught us we never know what unforeseen events will enlighten or becloud all else. We can discern major themes that will shape 2021, but just before the year's end, a new one emerges.

Links: Seditious lunacy, progressive economic policies and virtual travel

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Ridiculous challenges to election results; Sen. Warren's policy game; 20 states raise minimum wages while some billionaires are making even more billions.

Workers construct a viewing stand in front of the White House Nov. 28, 2020, ahead of the presidential inauguration ceremonies Jan. 20, 2021, in Washington. (CNS/Reuters/Erin Scott)

The year in politics: What to expect from 2021?

Distinctly Catholic: Though the Trump saga will continue as a sideshow, after Jan. 20 the news will become dominated by decisions President Biden makes, new crises he must face, new votes in Congress.

Wearing his trademark blue workman’s uniform, Discalced Carmelite Fr. Reginald Foster is photographed near the Vatican post office in this January 2007 file photo. (CNS/Chris Warde-Jones)

Links: Great obituary for a great priest

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Remembering Fr. Reginald Foster; Rep. Gohmert of Tyler, Texas, wants Vice President Pence to be able to count different electoral slates

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