Distinctly Catholic

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

Meryl Streep stars in the 2006 movie "The Devil Wears Prada." (CNS/20th Century Fox)

Links: Bishops, Communion and culture wars; getting tired of Twitter

by Michael Sean Winters

Jun 24, 2021

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Rhoades keeps being unclear; bishops ensure "discord will reign supreme"; more Trump power abuse; a Nigerian writer takes on Twitter; let movies be movies.

People photograph MSNBC's Chris Matthews as his show Hardball prepares to go on the air Jan. 31, 2016, from Java Joe's coffee shop in Des Moines, Iowa. (Flickr/Phil Roeder, CC by 2.0)

Chris Matthews' autobiography is good first draft of history

by Michael Sean Winters

Jun 23, 2021

Distinctly Catholic: Chris Matthews, former host of "Hardball," has a new autobiography out. It reads like you would expect a book by Matthews to read: It is rambunctious, smart, attentive and fearless.

A bronze copy of sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi's model for the Statue of Liberty is seen in the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Paris. (Wikimedia Commons/Tieum512)

Links: Declericalizing seminary formation; petition for those who hate billionaires

by Michael Sean Winters

Jun 22, 2021

Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Pope Francis reaffirms workers' right to organize; cooling buildings with paper; a smaller Statue of Liberty headed to U.S.; keeping Jeff Bezos in space.

Msgr. Jeffrey D. Burrill, general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, reads voting results June 18, on a proposal that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' doctrine committee draft a formal statement on "the meaning of the Eucharist

The collapse of the US bishops' conference

by Michael Sean Winters

Jun 21, 2021

Distinctly Catholic: What we witnessed last week at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' spring meeting was outrageous. Does the conference leadership understand that there was no synodality last week at their meeting?

Columns ›

Links: Bishops, Communion and culture wars; getting tired of Twitter

Chris Matthews' autobiography is good first draft of history

Links: Declericalizing seminary formation; petition for those who hate billionaires

The collapse of the US bishops' conference

US bishops' meeting: Disrespect and disunity on full display

Links: Vigneron's hypocrisy; Samantha Power in El Salvador; kudos to US mayors

Get vaccinated against lousy Communion arguments at US bishops' meeting

Links: Polarization today; repression in Russia; biggest threat to Biden's agenda

Can the US bishops grasp Pope Francis' ecclesial vision?

Pro Publica report on tax evasion gives Dems an opening

Links: Good news from the Hague and Joe Biden goes to Europe

A defense of the culture warrior bishops — sort of

Links: Biden's first diplomatic victory; ACLU's changing politics; analysis of US church

Three Supreme Court cases to watch

Will Trump be reinstated? Dems should make GOP own it

Links: Culture war predictions; Dems' New Mexico win; 'Atlantic Crossing' fact-checking

Struggle at Liberty University: politics or purity

Remembering those who sacrificed at a time of national peril

US bishops ignore Vatican letter on Communion in an astonishing way

Links: Biden-Floyd family meeting; overtime for farmworkers; Lesley Stahl's journalism

Can the US church manage the synodal path?

Israel's critics should hold Hamas accountable, too

Scandalized by 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous' Catholicism

Links: Our mental health crisis; partisan politics; investigation into Trump organization

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