Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic: The opposition to Francis is not diminishing in volume, although I still wonder how widespread it is. Lots of sound and fury, but does it signify anything?

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Top political races of 2018; Chicago's mayor interviews Cardinal Cupich; Previewing the U.S., sans pensions

Distinctly Catholic: How religion affects politics is unlikely to change much in 2018, but the capacity of religious organizations to resist the influence of politics is more promising, at least for Catholics.

Distinctly Catholic: President Trump lucked out by inheriting a strong economy and military strategy. He benefited from Democrats being the congressional minority. But his high-wire act can't last.

Distinctly Catholic: Auxiliary bishop appointments, climate change questions, and the synod on young people are sure to be among the most important stories and dynamics this year.

Distinctly Catholic: The partisan divisions in our culture, which are deeper than mere partisanship and extend to geography, socio-economic status and education levels, must not be allowed to overtake the life of the church.

Distinctly Catholic: President Donald Trump does not know how to deploy his dominance for political ends, only for celebrity status. 2017 was a grim year.

Distinctly Catholic: There is still a way to go for the reforms introduced by Pope Francis, but the trajectory is much clearer as 2017 comes to an end than it was when the year began.

Distinctly Catholic: One of the most distinguishing characteristics of Catholic intellectual life is our preference for "both/and" over "either/or" framings of solutions to our human conundrums.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Cardinal Bernard Law dies; conflicting points about sexual misconduct; grading Trump's national security strategy

Distinctly Catholic: Just as a certain sadness set in at the realization of how much racism still persisted in our country, after the excitement of electing our first black president, so too in this case, it is heart-breaking to realize how much women have had to put up with so many years into the movement for equality.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Who is attacking Rep. Dan Lipinski; Legislators in Ohio want to ban abortions undertaken due to Down syndrome diagnoses; GOP's "big win" on tax reform

Distinctly Catholic: That is Christmas, the in-breaking of the divine into human history and culture, and that Incarnation becomes the very lens through which we approach the world.  

Distinctly Catholic: It is difficult to prioritize all the bad things today's Republican Party is doing, but attacking the independence and credibility of our nation's top law enforcement agency is a new low.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Democrats predict the outcome of 2018; fully funding pensions that workers have earned; Pope Francis' beautiful reflection on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Distinctly Catholic: Many pundits will draw conclusions about Doug Jones' victory last night in Alabama’s Senate race. The question is: Will any in the political class have learned any lessons from the election?

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Happy Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe; E.J. Dionne warns about questioning Mueller's integrity; Cultural trend to never say 'I was wrong'

Distinctly Catholic: Erik Prince's suggestion to the Trump administration about setting up a private intelligence agency is more than mere evidence that this president surrounds himself with people who harbor crazy ideas.

Distinctly Catholic: The idea that Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel is a useful fiction. But diplomatic hyperventilation is not the reason Trump's embassy move worries me.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Mockery in the Cakeshop case; #MeToo also means workers in restaurants and hotels; Poland to phase out Sunday shopping.