Michael Sean Winters

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: The history of union-busting; What the Janus vs. AFSCME decision means for Catholic social teaching; Trump's trade policies and tweets; Mary Magdalene and her persistence

Distinctly Catholic: Though it was reduced to "Pope Bans Pill" the second it was issued, Humanae Vitae is actually a powerful reflection on the dangers to human life posed by the lingering Malthusian temptation to view human life as something we can exert mastery over.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: What happens during an ICE raid; protest against Trump administration official joining university; the friendship between Trump and Putin; John Garvey chastises Canadian Supreme Court; Democrats for Life meeting

One of the reasons Democratic campaigns fall flat is that their speechwriters and policy advisers cannot connect with Americans whose understanding of politics and culture is still shaped by religious idioms.

The pope's recent comment about missionaries as "divas on tour" garnered a lot of attention. But if we read his entire text, we find a profound message about evangelization and a special challenge to American sensibilities. 

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Blaming America first; reactions to Helsinki remarks; Serve America PAC gaining ground; Frontline's documentary on Puerto Rico non-recovery is incisive; Elizabeth Bruenig is a must-read commentator

With the publication of "The Prosperity Gospel: Dangerous and Different," the Jesuit priest and Prebysterian minister are happily stirring up trouble again, eschewing the false politeness that characterizes too much writing on the Catholic left. 

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: An odd America editorial; meeting parallel to the pope in Dublin; Democrats' and Republicans' misperceptions of each other.

Distinctly Catholic: Trump's trip to the Brussels NATO summit illustrated both his political genius and his magnificent vacuity. But he has no way of assessing the cost of his tantrums.

Distinctly Catholic: Conservative jurisprudence is still offensive to any set of values worthy of the name Christian. Also, we can expect 30 or more years of pro-business decisions from Brett Kavanaugh, and that it is reason enough to vote against him.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: The reactions to the Kavanaugh nomination were predictable on all sides, but there was at least some fresh air and insightful analysis.

Distinctly Catholic: With the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court, the nation is about to be consumed, again, by a debate about abortion. 

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is getting richer because of for-profit prisons; learn about fascism; responding to critiques of a few latest columns

Distinctly Catholic: The forthcoming Supreme Court confirmation process will be largely dominated by discussions of abortion. But analyses wrongly assume a static political environment.

Distinctly Catholic: I do not see how a constitutional originalist can object to being asked any particular question, and none that would amount to a "religious test."

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Sr. Norma Pimentel's profile rises; a slate of Supreme Court news; civics for conspiracy theorists; "Trump City" in the '80s.

Distinctly Catholic: On a day to assess the health of our republic, we face recent developments that show the degree to which the entire GOP establishment has caved to Trumpism.

Distinctly Catholic: Inside Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty's The Problem of Wealth: A Christian Response to a Culture of Affluence, there is a great book trying to get out. 

Distinctly Catholic: Using the news last week to publish rumors about Cardinal Theodore McCarrick that still are unsubstantiated felt creepy, not cathartic, to me. Journalists should not say they know something until they actually do.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Consequences of Crowley's defeat in New York; religious liberty groups silent on travel ban decision; another link pops up between conservative Catholic organizations and right-wing political groups