Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic: Pope Francis gave a few talks recently which, together, fill in the picture of where this pontificate is as we approach the fifth anniversary of his election next March, particularly toward labor and human dignity.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Congressional Budget Office scores the latest tax reform; Koch money goes for Time magazine; justice and climate change are interlinked and on a lot of minds

Distinctly Catholic: This week, the Senate plans to debate its tax reform proposals. This is a debate about economics, which has a certain disciplinary integrity that should be respected.

Distinctly Catholic: There is nothing mythic about the idea of gratitude. It is, alongside praise, with which it is intimately linked, the foundation of Catholic spiritual life.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: The Senate Finance Committee; judicial nominees who are not qualified; corruption in Congress; 'Trump country' travels

Distinctly Catholic: The U.S. bishops' conference calls raising income taxes on the working poor while simultaneously providing a large tax cut to the wealthy "simply unconscionable," yet that's what appears to be happening in Congress right now.

Distinctly Catholic: In Revered and Reviled, the book he finished before his death, Archbishop John R. Quinn renews appreciation for the complementarity of the two Vatican Councils.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: The president's false statements are adding up; Paula White; Roy Moore; Puerto Rico would lose under tax plan

Distinctly Catholic: Other dynamics within the bishops' conference emerged in the two-day public sessions. Immigration and racism got attention — but not a sense of urgency.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Diagnosing the Democrats' problems; along the road to climate catastrophe; conservative evangelicals stand by Roy Moore.

Distinctly Catholic: The Pro-Life Activities Committee has always been led by a cardinal, signaling the priority assigned to that committee. ​But the bishops elected Archbishop Naumann over Cardinal Cupich.

Distinctly Catholic: Immigration is one of the issues that unites the bishops, and during the first day of the bishops' plenary session, speakers endorsed a strong defense of immigrants. 

Distinctly Catholic: As the bishops of the United States celebrate the 100th anniversary of their episcopal conference, they received not one but two messages from Rome.

Distinctly Catholic: One of the most constant refrains among the complaints against Pope Francis is that he sows confusion, but that is only true if you have placed law or ideology at the heart of ecclesial life.

Distinctly Catholic: Ralph Northam's victory in Virginia shows that if the right candidate addresses constituents' needs in a compelling way, that candidate can win.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Statements in the wake of the Texas mass shooting; Philosophical presuppositions of Pope Francis; Election results

Distinctly Catholic: The U.S. bishops will meet in Baltimore next week. I wonder if they will even discuss the moral crisis the nation faces with the Trump presidency.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: What is wrong with Democrats; Pa. coal miners won't retrain because of Trump's promises; 'Paradise Papers' confirm suspicion

Distinctly Catholic: This tax bill does nothing to address our new Gilded Age, in which the very rich are obscenely rich and the very poor lack opportunity and basic necessities.

Distinctly Catholic: Not since Richard Nixon's presidency has anyone really had to worry about the vitality of our nation's Constitution. Enter President Donald Trump, nearly a year ago.