Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic: Pope Francis' determination to reform the Curia is showing signs of success. And every cardinal has gotten the message: Being a cardinal will not protect you from the consequences of your own actions.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Moderate voters' alarm about school curriculum on race; Facebook partners with religious groups; GOP bills seek to limit public health measures.

Distinctly Catholic: Sports are not only a form of human achievement, they are fun to watch. The next two weeks, kick back and enjoy the show of the Tokyo Olympics. I shall.

Distinctly Catholic: The fact that we sin doesn't rob us of our dignity as human beings created in God's image. It is that dignity that makes us squirm when we consider the invasion of privacy that led to Msgr. Jeffrey Burrill's resignation.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: A book all religion journalists and scholars should have on their desk; Archbishop Schnurr would not have approved President Biden's appearance at Mount St. Joseph University.

Distinctly Catholic: As we react to restored Latin Mass restrictions, it is a time for charity toward one another, an openness to sharing divergent liturgical tastes, a commitment to renewing the unity of the church.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Michael Matt delivers a speech attacking Pope Francis and spreading misinformation about COVID-19 at Immaculate Conception Seminary; What campaign fundraising says about the GOP?

Distinctly Catholic: Pope Francis is a patient pastor. Until he isn't. His decisive step to greatly restrict the celebration of the Tridentine rite was the only real option in service of the unity of the church.

Distinctly Catholic: President Biden gave an extraordinary speech about voting rights this week. In the speech, Biden identified what is clearly the most serious threat our democracy faces.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Debate on denying Communion; Russian Orthodox metropolitan says refusing vaccine is a sin; Biden's antitrust executive orders; a 2020 election deep dive.

Distinctly Catholic: Whenever Ross Douthat takes to the pages of a conservative Catholic journal like First Things, you know the result will be off the mark, despite the occasional thought-provoking observation.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Frightening analogies between U.S. "memory laws" and what's happening in Putin's Russia; a look at Texas' special legislative session; J.D. Vance has "humiliating" campaign start.

Distinctly Catholic: The best way to ameliorate the worst features of George Packer's four narratives of America is with the strong tonic of Catholic moral teaching, and our social teaching more specifically.

Distinctly Catholic: By claiming, falsely, that their efforts to restrict voting are needed to combat voter fraud, Republicans undermine the legitimacy of democracy in the minds of many. But, when you try and take away another person's rights, do not be surprised if they fight back.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Taking a look into the 2022 contest for control of the U.S. Senate, the "four Americas" that now define and animate our national life and why Meryl Streep's portrayal of Miranda Priestly was so believable.

Distinctly Catholic: Francis is the pope, and the Greek root of that word, pappas, or "father," became vividly clear on Sunday night when news broke that Pope Francis was having surgery.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: David Axelrod urges Congress to avoid excluding from Medicaid funding larger long-term care facilities, stagflation may be making a comeback and America is about seeking to better live out the meaning of our foundational creeds.

Distinctly Catholic: We Americans grow up thinking we are on a path that leads onward and upward. We never stop to think that things might not get better. They might get worse.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: A Trump-worshiping sycophancy; GOP's non-strategy on climate change; the creation of New York City's Central Park

Distinctly Catholic: Economic issues matter most to a lot of people who are not very powerful, blue collar workers and the poor, people left out of the neo-liberal economic success story that has been the dominant socio-cultural reality since the Reagan years.