Distinctly Catholic

Michael Sean Winters analyzes the worlds of religion and politics and the always fascinating estuary where the two collide.

Christmas trees in the East Room of the White House in Washington Nov. 30 (CNS/Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

Links: Profiles in courage, pornography floods Parler

by Michael Sean Winters

Dec 3, 2020

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Georgia's secure election process; Obama critics; missile interception technology is here; class consciousness; Michael Sean Winters on the radio

Pope Francis leads his general audience in the library of the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican Nov. 25. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Pope Francis challenges the Catholic left

by Michael Sean Winters

Dec 2, 2020

Distinctly Catholic: When Francis expresses his concern about Catholic groups that chart their own path, his words are a challenge to those on both the left and the right who discount thinking with the church.

Balloons that say "United States Census 2020" (CNS/Reuters/Brian Snyder)

Links: Trump and Latinos, religious liberty and conservatives, Jesuit liturgists

by Michael Sean Winters

Dec 1, 2020

Distinctly Catholic's twice-weekly roundup of political news and commentary: First Amendment history; last-minute immigration work by outgoing administration; real Mass is best, but no Mass is not the answer

Cardinal-designate Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, gives his homily during Mass for All Saints' Day Nov. 1 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington. (CNS/Catholic Standard/Mihoko Owada)

The inescapable politics of being Washington's cardinal

by Michael Sean Winters

Nov 30, 2020

Distinctly Catholic: As the cardinal-archbishop of the nation's capital, Wilton Gregory becomes face of the Catholic Church in the political sphere and the natural point man for dealing with the incoming Biden administration.

Columns ›

Links: Profiles in courage, pornography floods Parler

Pope Francis challenges the Catholic left

Links: Trump and Latinos, religious liberty and conservatives, Jesuit liturgists

The inescapable politics of being Washington's cardinal

Links: Thanksgiving set to music

Thanksgiving: Grace is everywhere

Links: Moral consistency, spiritual bromides, the 'Latino vote'

The GOP's future? Ditch Trump and read Edmund Burke

Trump's putative putsch and its collaborators

Links for 11/19/20

Gomez's lack of leadership is on full display with statement on Biden

Please press 'mute' to the US bishops

Bishops' conference elections: why they matter and what they portend

US bishops need to recalibrate their stance toward the culture

Links for 11/12/20

What the McCarrick report tells us about the culture of the hierarchy

Links for 11/10/20

Biden needs to push for far-reaching progressive economic policies

Can we turn to our 'better angels' after this election?

Considering hard realities on a grim post-election morning

On Election Eve, remember the limits of politics

What the election is telling us about the church in this country

Links for 10/29/20

Election anxiety takes hold

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