Michael Sean Winters

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Russia charges a journalist with "justifying terrorism," Trump's numbers plummet, China limits free speech in Hong Kong.

Distinctly Catholic: The only real novelty of George Weigel's latest book is the degree to which he casts aspersions on the current pope with catty insinuations without sufficient courage to say plainly where he thinks Francis has erred.

Distinctly Catholic: Our patriotism must be more honest than it was in 1943. Americans must learn to pray for America with our eyes open. Make no mistake, however: America is still worth praying for and fighting for.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Israel's looming disaster; Oklahomans vote to expand Medicaid; conspiracy theories on the campaign trail; a priest's vicious attack on Black Lives Matter.

Distinctly Catholic: If we truly want to make sure that every child is "protected in law and welcomed in life," we have a lot more work to do than the kind of legal shenanigans that are currently consuming the pro-life and pro-choice movements.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: The justice of wearing a mask; Joe Biden narrowing search for running mate; look back at political conventions; entertainment's role in undermining bigotry

Distinctly Catholic: The federal government needs to assist the states and cities that administer the very services the pandemic is most straining. For us Catholics, this is not even a difficult issue.

Distinctly Catholic: EWTN is a primary conduit for information regarding the Catholic faith to millions of Americans. Those viewers may not know that the network has increasingly become a vehicle for Trumpian propaganda that is at odds with Catholic social teaching.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: How Viganò merged with MAGA; religious recession in post-coronavirus; the inequities between Black and white Americans; a cornerstone of classic liberalism

Distinctly Catholic: Vandalizing a statue is as objectionable as tossing the Pachamama statue into the Tiber at last year's Amazon synod. If we are to debate whether or not Serra and Columbus still deserve a place in the American pantheon, let us debate the issue, not destroy the statues.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: No social distancing among new priests; political fallout of the Trump-Viganò letter; coronavirus cases surge in southern states; climate change impacts unborn children

Distinctly Catholic column: In countless ways, the traditional Democratic Party, with its focus on economic and social justice, should be ready to take the reins of power and propel the nation forward with sustained, vigorous leadership.

Trump and the vice president should have worn masks at all group photo ops. He should have worked closely with governors who had shutdown late, states like Arizona and Florida, which are now seeing their caseloads spike, getting them increased resources and doubling down on preventive measures.

A twice-weekly roundup of political news and commentary: Bishop Barron's $99 Bible; dismissing the Trail of Tears; Don Junior should pay his own way; defund the police needs a better name

Distinctly Catholic: The U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision that Title VII includes protecting transgender and homosexual people in the workplace was met with a predictable response.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Coronavirus hospital bills; St. Xavier University busts union; 2020 election views; illiberalism of the left

Distinctly Catholic: While it is doubtful the Viganò episode will cause any political fallout, it might cause some Catholics, who are new viewing to these fringes, to reconsider their religious stance.

Distinctly Catholic: None of us should want to live in a country where only "acceptable" opinions get published. We need editors willing to take risks, and sometimes make mistakes, without worrying that they will lose their livelihood, not those committed to preserving an echo chamber of the ideological left or right.

Twice-weekly roundup of political news and commentary: Viganò again; change the tax code for charities; virtue signaling; Barr's past; church's future

Distinctly Catholic: Are we at a turning point in our nation's long struggle with race? Will this time be different, as many hope? What role can the church play in helping the country rid itself of the scourge of racism?