Michael Sean Winters

Michael Sean Winters: The life of the Catholic Church in this country in 2021 was characterized by a culture war fit and evidence that Pope Francis will press forward with the reception of Vatican II in ways that will profoundly affect the U.S. church.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: The rebuilding of Puerto Rico's energy grid could serve as a model; Desmond Tutu was raised up to point the way for us; The Post on clergy who quit.

Michael Sean Winters: The principal political story of 2021 was President Biden's attempt, mostly unsuccessful, to get the U.S. back to normal. But the rhythm of the year was one of one step forward and one step back.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Highlighting green jobs; the lionization of Kyle Rittenhouse; reasons for the labor shortage; self-parody from the Women's March; Mary's Magnificat.

Michael Sean Winters: The publication of responses to questions about Pope Francis' Traditionis Custodes added a bit more ammunition to those who insist on engaging in battles about liturgy. I wish they would stop. They won't.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Perils of packing the court; FDR's expression of democracy's values; League of United Latin American Citizens drops "Latinx"; the Blessed Mother in Advent.

Some of the biggest stars of one of the nation's biggest networks, Fox, were proven to be dishonest about one of the biggest stories of the year and to have violated the first principle of journalistic ethics: Do not become part of the story. And the Catholic Church's largest media outlet is in bed with that network.

Michael Sean Winters: Inflation makes people nervous as each dollar stretches less and less far. President Biden and his team need to find better ways to address the issue, both in terms of policy and of communications.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Justice Neil Gorsuch's dissent from decision to deny religious exemption; worldwide inequality is worse than we thought; university coaches are "robbing us blind"

Michael Sean Winters: George Floyd, murdered so cruelly, so viciously — his sufferings are surely one with those of Christ on the cross. Mary is Floyd's mother as she is mother to us all. 

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Archbishop asked to reschedule a parish visit due to vaccination policy; Insurrection report is beyond damning for Mark Meadows; bet on the good people of metro Atlanta.

Michael Sean Winters: President Joe Biden recently convoked a two-day virtual summit on promoting democracy. Today we are fighting for democracy at home, the fight is proving difficult, and Biden's Catholic faith has something to offer the cause.

Issues like federal aid to child care need not become fodder in the culture wars that corrode our politics and our faith. We have to find workable compromises to these kinds of policy disputes, not simply go on beating each other up over them.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: How the wealthy avoid paying taxes; Supreme Court looking into parents using school vouchers; music played on the heavenly pipe organ

Michael Sean Winters: Pope Francis held up St. Paul's speech to the Athenians as a model of evangelization, saying "he did not impose; he proposed." This is the pedagogy of accompaniment, which can scarcely be labeled "heretical" or "confusing" as some conservatives are wont to do.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Cardinal Burke to celebrate a "More Ancient Usage" Mass; Bidens attend Kennedy Center Honors; look inside Liz Shuler's first 100 days as AFL-CIO president

Hope Border Institute has issued a new report on the root causes of migration. Interviewees in Central America say extortion, poverty, unemployment and worsening conditions as a result of COVID-19 are among the reasons they had no other option but to leave home. 

Michael Sean Winters: House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy has so far refused to discipline Rep. Lauren Boebert for her anti-Muslim bigotry. It seems that the politics of paranoia invites cowardice on the part of leaders whose job it is to stigmatize aberrant behavior, not cower before it.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Newly gerrymandered state legislatures; Dr. Oz running for Senate; health care provisions in the Build Back Better bill.

Michael Sean Winters: Two decades ago, the U.S. took the lead in bringing AIDS treatments to poorer countries. Do we have the compassion and the courage to mount such an effort again — or even put our own house in order?