Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic: President Trump uses words to divide, that is clear and it is reprehensible. But, he also uses words to distract, and that is why he had a self-described "victory lap" last week.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Build the wall if it means Dreamers can stay; who is pro-life in the Pennsylvania special election; Cardinal Dolan weighs in on Trump's boorish remark

Distinctly Catholic: In contrast to the current penchant for the lens of group victimization, King's identity politics were morally redemptive because he invoked universalist impulses.

Distinctly Catholic: What we know is that she is famous, and we Americans, left or right, we like famous. It is that adulation for fame that got Trump into the White House.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: The essential role of Christian dogma; interviews with Wilton Gregory and Joe Tobin; the Vatican's fake organ.

Distinctly Catholic: Recent televised interviews with Trump staffers, like Stephen Miller and Corey Lewandowski, demonstrate an alarming amount bowing and scraping to the president.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Koch outreach to Puerto Ricans; Report examines shared values between organized labor and church; There is no 'crisis we are living'

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.