Michael Sean Winters

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Founding Fathers' fear of foreign interference; the whys of the nones; a Wall Street warning; the Greta Thunberg Helpline.

I recall hearing him called "Darth Levada" when he was appointed archbishop of San Francisco. Certainly, he was seen, and was, more conservative than his predecessor Archbishop John R. Quinn. But, the nickname was unfair: He was not a culture warrior. 

Distinctly Catholic: Watching the coverage as the story unfolded, I kept wondering why on earth the White House released the transcript. Then it hit me: At this point in his term, the president is surrounded only by sycophants and incompetents.

Political news and commentary roundup: A column praising David Koch; New study on secure community revival; benchmarks for Democratic debates; panels at the Religion News Association conference; opposition to the upcoming Amazon synod.

Distinctly Catholic: Pagans and Christians in the City falls apart in the second half because the author misunderstands the very essence of Judaism and Christianity.

Political news and commentary roundup: The president and Ukraine; Sen. Elizabeth Warren then (during Obama) and now; the sermons on EWTN's daily Mass broadcast; Frank Lloyd Wright's Beth Shalom Synagogue

Distinctly Catholic: Pagans and Christians in the City explains how and why Christianity, unlike other religions within the Roman empire, could not come to a mutually satisfactory accommodation

Distinctly Catholic: The biggest winner of last night's debate was the Democratic Party as a whole: Almost all the candidates delivered their best performances to date, they were in command of the issues and the contrast with the incumbent president was as stark as it could be.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Reflecting on the summer national conservatism conference; Trump's self-dealing is not a route to impeachment; note to candidates on ads

Distinctly Catholic: Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone has been embattled since last year when, on "60 Minutes," his former secretary provided documentation that Malone covered up cases of clergy sex abuse, which he has denied.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Approaches to the environment from Franzen and Francis; Buttigieg talks like a business consultant; 'religion without God' in NYC.

Distinctly Catholic: There is a cabal among right-wing Catholics to undermine or minimize this pope and his teachings, but the church is big, with room enough for all.

Distinctly Catholic: Americans observing the current political mess in the U.K. will be familiar with the incalculable toll it takes on a democracy when the head of government is not trustworthy.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: The limits of religious freedom; Latino voters and abortion; Catholic journalism; reviewer calls Weigel's book "dangerous."

Distinctly Catholic: Commentators have noted that this pope has now appointed 53% of the cardinal electors. But we should be cautious about predicting certain consequences from that.

Distinctly Catholic: I hope that a thousand flowers bloom on the church-labor front. No two institutions are more committed to solidarity in our society than organized labor and the Catholic Church.

Distinctly Catholic: I do not see how we can, as a society, ignore the mixed signals that medically assisted suicide sends.

A twice-weekly roundup of political news and commentary: the peace of Northern Ireland under Brexit; Puerto Rico braces for another hurricane; leave Alaska's forest alone; Mayor Pete Buttigieg should leave high-dollar funders alone, too

Distinctly Catholic: As I was watching this year's G-7 summit in Biarritz, France, it was impossible not to wonder about the long-term damage President Donald Trump is doing to U.S. interests.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Warren's transformation; the purpose of a corporation; white evangelicals' psychological baggage; Australia's Catholic meltdown.