Michael Sean Winters

Distinctly Catholic: This year, the Iowa caucus came on the eve of the State of the Union address and two nights before the final impeachment vote. The results will not dominate the news cycle as they did in 2008.

A roundup of political and religious commentary: Catering to Catholics in Iowa; pro-life Democrats still getting the cold shoulder from candidates; no witnesses in Senate impeachment trial expected but still infuriating; Catholic schools are good for neighborhoods; papal legacies

Distinctly Catholic: Austin Ivereigh paints the picture of a pontiff whose woundedness, not only in the sex abuse crisis but especially there, has brought new energy to his efforts, and a conviction that his own conversion is also the kind of conversion the church needs.

Distinctly Catholic: The president's attorneys, unlike the House managers, were often playing a shell game, answering a different question from the one asked.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Data in the Democratic primary; the evangelical "faith and work" movement; no merit to the "public charge" rule; an inspiring Italian flash mob.

Distinctly Catholic: One of the most dangerous attributes of our culture is our penchant for selective memory, and that selectivity has been on full display in recent days.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Why polarization is a bigger problems for Dems than Republicans; Salon looks at convergence of climate change and third world debt

Distinctly Catholic: I hope the new archbishop of Philadelphia will be a champion of Francis and help communicate the Holy Father's vision to reconceive what power means.

Distinctly Catholic: One of the most remarkable oddities of our time is that the political party led by someone whose career is one continuous form of self-promotion has been embraced by many people who claim to believe that he who said "blessed are the meek" is the savior of the world.

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Ethicists on the Soleimani assassination; bystanderism and the lessons of the Holocaust; taking down "political hobbyists"; rebuilding Notre Dame.

Distinctly Catholic: By lashing itself to President Trump, the mainstream pro-life movement has morally and indelibly compromised its cause. But the Catholic left also appears unequal to the moment.

Roundup of political news and commentary: Levin diagnoses our culture's dire situation; Biden, Buttigieg hold retreats for donors; Suspicions about Buttigieg; International Monetary Fund notes '20s parallels.

Distinctly Catholic: It is grimly ironic that 30 years after "we won" the Cold War, a new curtain has come down, this one made of political self-interest and not of iron and running right down the center of the U.S. Senate chamber.

Distinctly Catholic: The drama of Cardinal Robert Sarah's book shows it was obvious that someone was taking advantage of the retired pope. Benedict's window to the world, Archbishop Georg Gänswein, has got to go.

Roundup of political news and commentary: The nonprofit Knights of Columbus can't engage in partisan politicking; look into the Fairness For All Act; the nuance of what Sen. Bernie Sanders said to Sen. Elizabeth Warren; Trump likes farmers, so what

Distinctly Catholic: At last night's debate, the candidates resisted the temptation to get into a tit-for-tat shouting match. But anyone who is going to beat Trump has to demonstrate some toughness and a bare knuckles debate might have given some insight there. 

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: A powerful, sad look at El Paso; the worst option for health care; primary dynamics; from a disastrous headline to the priesthood.

Distinctly Catholic: It will surprise some people that if you break down the religious left by denomination, the largest single group is Catholics, with fully a quarter of those who are liberal and churchgoing, followed by mainline Protestants.

Distinctly Catholic: While Congress fought over impeachment and we almost went to war with Iran, you'd be forgiven for missing the news about Homeland Security sharing information with the Census Bureau.

Distinctly Catholic: The court can help by revoking a lower court decision that reorganized the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico, which could have the effect of unfreezing funds involved in litigation.