Michael Sean Winters

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Democratic Party continues self-destruction; Bishop Tobin calls out NRA; Real reasons American working has declined; Napa Institute's 'strategic partner'

Distinctly Catholic: It is difficult to determine whether to even call attention to nonsense like LifeSiteNews' story on a "new Vatican financial scandal." But someone has to expose this fraud for what it is.

Distinctly Catholic: The danger to the church in this lawsuit is obvious: If Mr. Janus can join a union and then seek to blow it up, why can't someone join the workforce at a Catholic university and then insist that he not be made to teach Aquinas?

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: More interesting amicus curiae briefs in the Janus v. AFSCME​ case; Catholics are consistently pro-labor; free the world of art — and own up to your opinions

Distinctly Catholic: Catholic social doctrine and the facts of Janus v. AFSCME make the U.S. bishops' support of labor in this case logical and prudent. I am not a lawyer, but I am curious as to why Ed Whelan thinks he should oppose the bishops' brief "as a Catholic."

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: When bishops and the bishops' conference disagree; Democrat Conor Lamb's chances in Pennsylvania; "Year of the Dog" greetings

Distinctly Catholic: The wisdom of Martin Luther King "is more necessary than ever in our violent and fragmented society," writes the Baltimore archbishop. Can I get an amen?

Distinctly Catholic: Never mind facts — we want to both save money, and inspire the poor to improve themselves. But virtue is not only for the poor. It's for everybody.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Koch-backed group works to roll back laws for sick leave; Trump administration may target immigrant recipients of food aid; Benedict's "total obedience"

Distinctly Catholic: There is clear continuity in Catholic social teaching between the pre-conciliar papal magisterium, the documents of Vatican II, the papal magisteriums of Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Ed Whelan needs a new research team; the polarization and necessity of raising up intellectuals in philosophy; Is the Democratic party beyond saving?

Distinctly Catholic: Part one of a review of book that demonstrates how and why the theology of the people had a formative impact on Jorge Maria Bergoglio, and also shows its continuing influence on his writings now that he is Pope Francis.

Distinctly Catholic: George Weigel's latest disputes Cardinal Parolin's calling Amoris Laetitia a paradigm shift. But there's a purpose to Weigel's framing the term so narrowly.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Becket religious liberty fund sides with shirt company; government shut down, again; bye, Kathleen Hartnett White; hurri-can't recovery; DACA recipient priest

Distinctly Catholic: With Veritatis Gaudium, which brings up to date the last, 1979, apostolic constitution on the topic of schools that grant pontifical degrees, Francis sets out four criteria for the renewal and revival of their faculties.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Thumbs-down for Uber; Paul Ryan's $1.50 tweet; Polish ban raises alarm; why "Davos Man" is right to be nervous

Distinctly Catholic: The danger in all this hoo-ha over the memo and what we're told it "proves" is that important institutions that keep our democracy stable are being undermined.

Distinctly Catholic: I am accustomed to disagreeing with the writings about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict offered by Ra'fat Al-Dajani. But his latest commentary is so outrageous, it demands a response.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: HHS' new division protects health-care workers' religious rights; Be careful how you invoke Churchill; Chaput responds to Cessario's First Things review

Whiplash. President Trump, after a year of divisive tweets and regressive policies and public demeaning of political opponents, called the nation to unite behind his leadership in last night’s State of the Union address.