Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic: When the U.S. bishops gather for their annual meeting in Baltimore next week and work out implementing the Vatican's norms on handling sex abuse, they also must get on record with defending immigrants.

Distinctly Catholic: For years, I held Sen. Lindsey Graham in high esteem, even though I disagreed with him on many, many issues. Now, he is reduced to being a Trump cheerleader.

Political news and commentary roundup: Tarps serve as roofs, 18 months later; Theresa May's career ends; two thoughtful articles on the abortion issue, and one of the dumbest.

Distinctly Catholic: Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, is doing well in the polls, but he's too "accomplished" for me and too quick to embrace neo-liberal ideas about the economy.

Distinctly Catholic: Openly gay, 37 years old, and mayor of a midsized Midwestern city, Buttigieg is this year's Rorschach test candidate: People see what they want to see.

Distinctly Catholic: It is a fitting tribute to pray for an end to war, to begin using our political power to disassemble the military-industrial complex, to work on peace-building initiatives in our communities and in our country, to support diplomatic efforts around the globe to end strife by peaceful means.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: A look at Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society, resetting the way we frame and discuss the abortion issue, how to conceptualize economic policy, and the upcoming European elections.

Distinctly Catholic: James Carroll's view of the priesthood is self-referential and outdated. He seems not to understand how doctrine develops, nor how it relates to history. He further fails to grasp that for the Catholic Church, while it must be historically conscious, the relevant history is also and always salvation history.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Smart and not-so-smart takes on abortion; Catholics and labor leaders in Las Vegas; "Don't forget the poor" in the Amazon.

Distinctly Catholic: There is no constitutional requirement that a public policy cohere with Catholic moral teaching, to be sure. But, let's call this "merit-based" system what it is: Eugenics for immigrants.

Distinctly Catholic: What is needed in rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral is to avoid any architectural ideologies and, instead, to invite the freedom of the artist to make something beautiful.

Political news and commentary: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker (there's a lot going on in the pre-primary); the enormously challenging issue posed by transgender and intersexual athletes

Distinctly Catholic: From his opening reference to the "20,000 liberty-loving 'Champions for Christ' " through his concluding paragraph about making America great again, the vice president's commencement speech epitomized a way of being religious in America today that is so unself-critical as to be dangerous.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Napa Institute invites the who's who of Francis critics; the left's identity politics fixation; evangelicals and Trump.

Distinctly Catholic: If you were to ask the American people if they thought their political leaders were truthful, you can bet that most of them would be cynical and contemptuous, and not without reason.

Distinctly Catholic: I am firmly convinced that everything that is wrong with capitalism was on full display in creating the Puerto Rican debt crisis. 

Distinctly Catholic: Is the fight over? Of course not. All this has to be implemented, foot-dragging must be confronted, episcopal conferences have protocols to erect, and Roman dicasteries have personnel to train. Still, this is no baby step forward.

Political news and commentary: Compensating President Trump for his 'suffering'; Red Sox manager takes stand against Trump; Empathy is critical for policies like Green New Deal

Distinctly Catholic: William Barr has done more in a few weeks to undermine confidence in the Department of Justice than seemed imaginable. Barr has emboldened the most dangerous man to ever reside in the White House. 

Political news and commentary: The conservative Catholic media; the Catholic Church is not the same as Western Civilization; good that Moore won't head the Fed; Biden's big money connection while billionaires are nervous; culture reading; dogs in college