Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic: The only thing standing between the country and a disaster in health care policy is the incompetence of the Senate majority leader, and we face a similar dynamic now with tax reform.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Most Americans think kneeling for the anthem is fine, even if they would not do it; will George Weigel's John Paul opinion go away; more on Amoris Laetitia

Distinctly Catholic: Pope Francis' insight, that there is a kind of ecclesiological approach that wants Jesus kept in a box, is lost on the drafters of the recent "filial correction."

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Clinton's What Happened; Cardinal Dolan advises Louisiana priests; a far-right party's rise in Germany.

Distinctly Catholic: Battered by climate change and debt, Puerto Rico and other poor Caribbean islands are due not only charity, but justice from us in the global north.

Distinctly Catholic: Fr. Julián Carrón has led the Communion and Liberation movement since 2005 when the movement's founder, Msgr. Luigi Giussani, died. Carron's new book, Disarming Beauty: Essays on Faith, Truth and Freedom, is at once splendid and frustrating.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Bishop McElroy on the cancer in the church; "the weirdest U.N. speech ever"; look back at Youngstown's tragedy.

Distinctly Catholic: Too often, we speak as if Catholic social teaching just dropped from the sky with Pope Leo XIII. Msgr. John Strynkowski shares his paper exploring the foundations of the movement.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: what single-payer health care has going for it; Cupich bans guns from Chicago churches; a "pro-lifeish" Democrat.

Distinctly Catholic: I hope Fr. Judge's sainthood cause prospers. Not because he was gay, but because he was a selfless priest who died bringing the consolation of Christ on 9/11.

Distinctly Catholic: Republicans in Congress have not abandoned what appears to be an effort to dial the country back to Dickensian times, proposing "mini-audits" on low- to moderate-income people, especially those with children.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: rabbis could teach bishops something about leadership; a 2020 presidential bid litmus test that's good; incomes rise, but the gap remains

Distinctly Catholic: Comments from Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Dick Durbin at Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearing were irregular, but they show such hearings to be farcical — and that ​Catholics are still powerful.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: DACA editorial; Barbados bishop calls for debt relief after Hurricane Irma; Bannon declares war on Congress

Distinctly Catholic: When Steve Bannon said, "They need illegal aliens to fill the churches," I think he was onto something, just not what he thought he was onto.

Distinctly Catholic: Fr. Jim Martin is a treasure. He has endured vulgar and childish tweets from others, but his works will be read long after such fire-eaters have been forgotten.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: a DACA priest; advice for the Democrats; homophobia in the Catholic Church; a song to stir the soul in dark times.

Distinctly Catholic: These young Americans should come out of the shadows, but the undocumented immigrants who did not qualify for DACA should also be able to come out of the shadows.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Elizabeth Warren's faith; Louisiana governor shows a way for Democrats; how Reagan paved the way for Trump.

Distinctly Catholic: I cannot think of a single thing that would improve the quality of American democracy — and society — than to have a stronger labor movement.