Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic: Now for some modern church history, from the archives of my great mentor, who describes efforts to better conform the U.S. church to the democratic tenor of the country and include priests in the consultation process for naming new bishops.

Distinctly Catholic: Of all Christian holidays, this is the day from which there are no ethical lessons to be drawn. Today is about something deeper, more primordial in Christian spirituality than mere ethics.

Distinctly Catholic: Where the most COVID-19 cases and deaths are; insufferable ruling class; students suing Department of Education; Holy Thursday

Distinctly Catholic: The thing I most love about Pope Francis is when he gives a sermon that really challenges us moderns. As the church began Holy Week, he delivered just such a sermon on Palm Sunday.

Distinctly Catholic: Tour museums virtually; actors make terrible politicians; drones are good for filming volcanoes; garment workers get their earned pay back; EWTN's immigration coverage starts with anti-immigration politicians

Distinctly Catholic: We're in the midst of another round in the culture wars, the firearms branch. Another example of culture war paralysis. But certain kinds of weapons make mass shootings possible.

Distinctly Catholic: Despite the U.S. bishops' absolutism, nondiscrimination proposals like the Equality Act, if amended to remove restrictions on religious freedom, represent no threat to religion or the common good.

Distinctly Catholic's twice-weekly roundup: The bread of affliction; monuments to assassins and dictators; help for Puerto Rico: Frank Gehry legacy: standardized tests, good or bad?

Distinctly Catholic: President Joe Biden not only has an opportunity to help the people who have been stranded in Mexico, he has an opportunity to beat back the idea that the Republicans are the party of churchgoers.

Distinctly Catholic's twice-weekly roundup: Proof that constitutional originalists can't support nondelegation doctrine with history; evidence people might think CEOs are getting paid too much; legacies of Maya Lin and Steven Spurrier

Distinctly Catholic: Anyone else tired of Catholics behaving badly? Not run-of-the-mill badly, say, being a little lazy or a tad judgmental. Really badly, doing or saying something that is really hateful or harmful.

Distinctly Catholic: Arizona has been the great success story for efforts by Democrats to get Latino voters to the polls and vote for them. On the other hand, Florida has been the big letdown.

Distinctly Catholic rounds up political news and commentary: Debunking the myth of the conservative working class; a visitation for the Congregation for Divine Worship; math problems at The Washington Post.

Distinctly Catholic: A constantly changing electorate is challenging to any U.S. political party, but Democrats' message of being "for the poor" may be working against their desire to attract Latino and Hispanic voters.

Distinctly Catholic rounds up political news and commentary: Former President Trump adrift? Last-minute aid to private, religious schools; Archbishop Naumann's tendentious approach to President Biden

Distinctly Catholic: When you look at the shift in votes between the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, it becomes clearer that being Latino or Hispanic in the U.S. does not mean necessarily voting the Democratic ticket.

Distinctly Catholic: From Pope Leo XIII through St. John Paul II to Francis, papal writings have cautioned against idolizing the free market and called for the deliberate defense of workers and common goods.

Distinctly Catholic rounds up political news and commentary: Reversing voter freedom; Amazon workers, unite; Democrats need to stay laser focused on economic, not cultural issues, to succeed in 2022, 2024

Distinctly Catholic: One of the things I like best about this pope is that he remembers the tactile nature of our Christian faith, the fact that most of us common people want to touch the holy or, in this case, make a pilgrimage to a holy place.

Distinctly Catholic rounds up political news and commentary: Rachel Maddow gets emotional; economic growth starts at the bottom; fix the filibuster; address the truth; describe the English pipe organ