Michael Sean Winters

Michael Sean Winters: The news that Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego has been named a cardinal is thrilling. Pope Francis has rendered an unmistakable sign of the kind of episcopal leadership he is seeking. 

Some people have claimed for years that gay clergy and celibacy are central to sex abuse by Catholic clergy. A new report about decades of clergy sex abuse by Southern Baptist ministers shows those claims as false and foolish.

Michael Sean Winters: Coverage of the school shooting in Texas; humanitarian assistance in Ukraine; midterm elections results

Michael Sean Winters: San Francisco's Salvatore Cordileone is a bomb thrower of an archbishop and he has thrown a bomb all right. But the real damage will not be done to the halls of government.

Michael Sean Winters: A powerful analysis of the Southern Baptist Convention's report on cover-up of sexual abuse allegations; the Post examines what is driving the midterms; does Donald Trump's endorsement matter?

The synodal process benefits from embracing a Catholic worldview rather than ideology. The ability to resist ideology is absolutely necessary if the synodal process is to create a more vibrant and faithful church.

Michael Sean Winters: Pennsylvania bishops should teach their flock that Catholic theology does not traffic in the often hateful, sometimes lunatic, ideas that Doug Mastriano claims are part of his divinely inspired platform.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Bad analogy for student debt forgiveness; damning report on the U.S. leaving Afghanistan; Kremlin disinformation from the pulpit; architectural beauty.

Michael Sean Winters: The decision by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to close down Catholic News Service was terrible in terms of lowering the standards of Catholic journalism. It was terrible, also, because of its ecclesial significance, which strikes at a deeper issue for the nation's bishops. 

Michael Sean Winters: On abortion, the left is as beholden to the culture wars as the right, or more so; DeSantis 'crushing' Hawley; European leaders begin making overtures to the Kremlin; and another great awakening?

In his latest in an occasional feature, Michael Sean Winters looks at Catholics behaving badly, those who give our religion a bad name and unwittingly create more "nones."

Michael Sean Winters: The leak of an opinion overturning Roe v. Wade set off culture war extremism. Both sides are driven by special interest groups to adopt all-or-nothing solutions, but most Americans want compromise.

Michael Sean Winters: There is new life in the relationship of labor and the Catholic Church; Silas House judges J.D. Vance as "dangerous"; Ohio’s Senate race may reveal if Democrats can still win working-class voters.

Michael Sean Winters: While the U.S. bishops are planning a eucharistic revival, Pope Francis reminds us all that the liturgy must build up the unity of the church, and never serve as a source of division.

Michael Sean Winters: We need to find different places for books and coffee; Tish Harrison Warren writes about the mixed feelings of many in the pro-life and whole-life movement; win the independents to win.

A book of essays by the late Eva Fleischner, a pioneering Catholic scholar of the Shoah, challenges us to never forget the Holocaust and take responsibility for each other so such inhumanity never happens again.

A special Mass and a panel discussion will recall the legacy of Msgr. George Higgins, longtime chaplain to the AFL-CIO. The events highlight some rising stars bringing new energy to the Catholic-labor alliance.

Michael Sean Winters: Holocaust memorial embroiled in the Ukraine war; midterm politics; beautiful, sustainable architecture and more

Michael Sean Winters: While the dynamics are different in each party, religion is likely to play a role in determining the outcomes in both the Democratic and Republican races in the midterm primary season.

Columnist Michael Sean Winters shares links about the elections in Slovenia and France, polarization in education in Tennessee, and more.