Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic: Synodality is a different approach to untying knots, building consensus, being church. As Pope Francis indicated in this splendid sermon, we must leave room for God to act, and be less interested in advancing our own agendas.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: How we mend our broken country; Democratic majority House could undermine Mueller probe; bishops need to revise voting guide; irregularities with voting machines in minority districts

Distinctly Catholic: In two weeks, the U.S. bishops gather in Baltimore. They must confront their own accountability amid the sex abuse crisis, and their loyalty to Pope Francis. Are the bishops up to it?

Distinctly Catholic: He spoke not because his concern for victims of clergy sex abuse at long last got the better of him. He spoke because he didn't like Pope Francis' approach to theology.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Little to fear from the caravan; Democrats trounce Republicans in small donors; synod struggles on what to call gay folk.

Distinctly Catholic: Trump clearly does not rely on consultants nor obsess about issues. He has figured out that the way to turn out his base is to scare the livin' bejeezus out of them.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Emotional propaganda by CatholicVote.org; The curse of Republican-sponsored tax cuts; Hope for a blue wave diminishes; Latino voters and the midterm elections; How to get into Harvard University.

Distinctly Catholic: In his ongoing analysis of the midterm elections, Michael Sean Winters looks at a current polling and some of the institutionalized hurdles to change.

Distinctly Catholic: New report points to the majority of Americans who resent the dominance of the extremes in U.S. public discussion, but have not figured out how to overcome the reality.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Passing huge tax cuts for the wealthy; Confronting the climate emergency; Controversy surrounding a lecture against abortion; Suppressing poor minorities who vote for Democrats.

Distinctly Catholic: The potential for genuine synodality makes me hope that those who want change, even those who want change I would applaud, will give Pope Francis some wiggle room.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Limiting public assistance for legal immigrants and limiting refugees; Sen. Warren's heritage; looking for synod rules.

Distinctly Catholic: Anger over the nomination controversy may still motivate voters, but Democrats should be sowing doubts about Trump's elitism in working-class precincts.

Distinctly Catholic: Cardinal Donald Wuerl was a link between the two scandals involving Theodore McCarrick and the Pennsylvania grand jury report. With his resignation, Wuerl is the last of his kind.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: "Principled Entrepreneurship;" lessons to learn from winning union elections; Tokyo 2020 Olympics goes over budget

Distinctly Catholic: Pope Francis' order to investigate files on the McCarrick case signals that episcopal accountability, which has been the missing link in changing the clerical culture, is coming to the Catholic Church.

Distinctly Catholic: Two stories last week justified my caution about an increased role for the laity as a means to heal the church. The stories showed the ugly power of money that lay leadership entails.

Distinctly Catholic: I have a modest proposal. Let's give the country a break from leadership by folks who came from the Ivy Leagues.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Why Ben Wittes wouldn't vote to confirm Kavanaugh; pope's popularity drops; double lives of House Republicans

Distinctly Catholic: Judge Brett Kavanaugh called last week's hearing "a national disgrace." On cable news, moderate voices fretted that the U.S. had never been in such dire straits. Bosh.