Michael Sean Winters

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.

Michael Sean Winters: Texas held its primary elections in March, but for the rest of the U.S., primary season begins in May. The results in these midterm primaries over the next few months will achieve two things.

Michael Sean Winters: There's no more "Catholic bloc" among French voters, but Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen are looking for votes wherever they can find them. Catholics loom more in French history than in today's electorate.

Michael Sean Winters: Elizabeth Warren urges Dems to pass needed legislation to avoid being clobbered in the midterms; report on A.J. Oliver, who was pushed out as a Democratic committee chair due to his pro-life views.

Sen. Rick Scott thinks middle- and working-class voters should pay more taxes. And he wants to sunset Social Security and Medicare. The Dems need to use his "Rescue America" plan to hold on to seats in the midterms.

Michael Sean Winters: A look at the difficult-to-fathom decision by some very conservative Republicans to pick a fight with Disney; a high school junior's essay is a study in true liberal values.

Michael Sean Winters: Conservative prelates published a letter to the German bishops complaining about their Synodal Path. This kerfuffle was instructive about the synodal process and its limits, not about how the process will end.

Historian John McGreevy is a great choice for University of Notre Dame provost. He is a scholar, first and foremost