Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic: Not since Richard Nixon's presidency has anyone really had to worry about the vitality of our nation's Constitution. Enter President Donald Trump, nearly a year ago.

Distinctly Catholic: Fr. Weinandy did not merely object to this or that thing Pope Francis has said or done; the whole tone of his letter showed an appalling lack of respect.

Distinctly Catholic: You would think it would have dawned on Democrats that they are out of sync with the American electorate, but no. It is time for a new message and new messengers.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Puerto Rico and the "culture of indifference" about poverty; Mueller investigation; union's immigration resources.

Distinctly Catholic: The Republican base is not united around a core set of principles, but it can be animated by a core set of resentments dripping in the tropes of white nationalism.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: The Reformation's 500th anniversary; call-out on lies about Israel; Archbishop González's plea for Puerto Rico gets a boost from Lin-Manuel.

Distinctly Catholic: The issue is not simply that there has been a decline in the intellectual heft of the episcopal bench, it is that the bishops no longer seek a common ground based on real theological principles.

Distinctly Catholic: Two weeks from today, the U.S. bishops will begin assembling for their annual plenary meeting. Let's examine the relevant beginnings of the U.S. bishops' conference.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Sen. Jeff Flake's speech was profile in courage; Rekindling relationship between organized labor and church; Solar panels in Puerto Rico

Distinctly Catholic: Liturgical translations may have been at issue in the pope's rebuke, but more is at stake. In the first place, Pope Francis is sending a message to the entire curia that he will not tolerate insubordination any longer. 

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: former presidents speak out against nation's coarsening; fake news on FOX News; at lunch, Trump to encourage Congress to pass a budget

Distinctly Catholic: In reading conservative reactions to Pope Francis and some of the reforms he has begun, it becomes clear that many of our co-religionists on the right think they own the Catholic Church.

Distinctly Catholic: In this time of renewed manipulation of cultural memes, the artist is perhaps best equipped to evoke emotions that edify instead of dehumanize. One such artist: Edina Seleskovic.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Pope Francis and the hard-hearted; voting straight party ticket blindly; Vatican II is 55; keeping refugees protected; musical soothing

Distinctly Catholic: The Family Research Council's annual event for conservatives had, for the first time, a sitting president at the podium, and what also was different about this year's summit was the openness with which the participants revealed their sympathy for ethnic nationalism. 

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Preliminary gerrymander reform; flag for the interior secretary; Democrats' contraception trap; stop "othering" poor people

Distinctly Catholic: In the weeks after a major natural disaster, little by little, things get better and over time return to normalcy. This is not the case for Puerto Rico.

Distinctly Catholic: In a recent talk at Notre Dame, the Jesuit editor of La Civiltà Cattolica showed how he's first among equals when it comes to explaining this pontificate.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Social media may be too powerful; abortion-ban has support; redistricting equals democracy; small farmers and big grocery clash; a light in Puerto Rico

Distinctly Catholic: Lack of good-faith negotiation about the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act means the issue will continue to swing based on who is in the White House.