Michael Sean Winters

We have a president who routinely, and almost daily, defines deviancy down, making normal or even acceptable what once did and still should provoke horror.

Political news and commentary roundup: What are Trump's true motives? People who "approve" of him might not vote for him, and he might win solely on the anti-abortion vote, if Democrats remain extreme on the issue

Distinctly Catholic: The U.S. bishops' conference, as predicted, passed the implementing documents, but perhaps at the next meeting, the bishops can consider how they can overcome the polarization within the flock that is fed by the media as well as by other sources.

Distinctly Catholic: Barron is a master at apologetics, but apologetics is not evangelization and, in fact, to the degree the Catholic Church highlights his brand of apologetics, I will predict our efforts at evangelization will be stillborn.

Distinctly Catholic: It is shocking that there was apparently no effort to build a consensus among the bishops before they got to Baltimore. It is past time for new leadership at the bishops' conference.

Political news and commentary roundup: Trump's approval rating tanks in key swing states; Warren carves out her own lane; Dems become intolerant to their own pro-lifers; O'Hanlon on polemic limits

Distinctly Catholic: Starting with personal attacks on Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and the mayor of London, US President Donald Trump blundered his way through his trip to England, Ireland and France.

Distinctly Catholic: The worldliness that has become part and parcel of leading the Christian community, the need for all bishops and pastors to curry favor among the wealthy in order to fund our ministries, is antithetical to a church of the poor.

Political news and commentary roundup: Abortion debate is one for the extremists; old-school progressive movement was successful because it was broad and flexible; what if your favorite coffee brand was founded with Nazi money

Distinctly Catholic: The dangers the rise of nationalistic populism poses are real. Over 4,000 soldiers gave their lives on D-Day to combat the evil that emerged the last time nationalistic populism came to power in Europe.

Political news and commentary roundup: Elections and religious talk; what does Figueiredo really know; problematic tech philanthropy; William Barr is boggling; reliving the AIDS epidemic

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.