Michael Sean Winters

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.

Distinctly Catholic: There is no constitutional requirement that a public policy cohere with Catholic moral teaching, to be sure. But, let's call this "merit-based" system what it is: Eugenics for immigrants.

Distinctly Catholic: What is needed in rebuilding Notre Dame Cathedral is to avoid any architectural ideologies and, instead, to invite the freedom of the artist to make something beautiful.

Political news and commentary: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker (there's a lot going on in the pre-primary); the enormously challenging issue posed by transgender and intersexual athletes

Distinctly Catholic: From his opening reference to the "20,000 liberty-loving 'Champions for Christ' " through his concluding paragraph about making America great again, the vice president's commencement speech epitomized a way of being religious in America today that is so unself-critical as to be dangerous.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Napa Institute invites the who's who of Francis critics; the left's identity politics fixation; evangelicals and Trump.

Distinctly Catholic: If you were to ask the American people if they thought their political leaders were truthful, you can bet that most of them would be cynical and contemptuous, and not without reason.

Distinctly Catholic: I am firmly convinced that everything that is wrong with capitalism was on full display in creating the Puerto Rican debt crisis. 

Distinctly Catholic: Is the fight over? Of course not. All this has to be implemented, foot-dragging must be confronted, episcopal conferences have protocols to erect, and Roman dicasteries have personnel to train. Still, this is no baby step forward.

Political news and commentary: Compensating President Trump for his 'suffering'; Red Sox manager takes stand against Trump; Empathy is critical for policies like Green New Deal

Distinctly Catholic: William Barr has done more in a few weeks to undermine confidence in the Department of Justice than seemed imaginable. Barr has emboldened the most dangerous man to ever reside in the White House. 

Political news and commentary: The conservative Catholic media; the Catholic Church is not the same as Western Civilization; good that Moore won't head the Fed; Biden's big money connection while billionaires are nervous; culture reading; dogs in college

Distinctly Catholic: President Trump announced new HHS rules that give much more robust conscience protections to health care providers, and fighting ensued. A voice of reason in this debate, unsurprisingly, is Daughter of Charity Sr. Carol Keehan, president and CEO of Catholic Health Association.

Distinctly Catholic: Accusations of the pope's heresy show venom, assertions unhinged from reality, and possibly fear that Francis is right.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Early primary polling is predictive; Offering a defense for Cardinal Tobin; Things look up for Catholic Left

Distinctly Catholic: Unions did not arise because workers had nothing better to do with their time. They arose because ruthless capitalists treated workers like disposable machinery, useful only insofar as they increased the company's bottom line. 

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Des Moines Register plays large role in U.S. politics; electricity storage has political implications

Distinctly Catholic: The newly published book by Gerard O'Connell provides an unprecedented, if unverifiable, inside look at the 2013 conclave that made Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio pope.

Distinctly Catholic: Laudatory but not hagiographic, this new film about Notre Dame's late president chronicles his enormous influence in the latter half of the 20th century.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Unequal Medicaid in Puerto Rico; polarization in the church and at niche Catholic colleges; is the resurrection a metaphor?