Distinctly Catholic

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

Joe Biden greets Jesuit Fr. Leo O'Donovan during Biden's inauguration as the 46th president of the United States at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Jan. 20, 2021. (CNS/Reuters pool/Patrick Semansky)

Bishops throw cold water on the most Catholic inauguration in history

by Michael Sean Winters

Jan 21, 2021

Distinctly Catholic: President Joe Biden's inaugural address was a better articulation of Catholic ideas about governance than any recent document from the U.S. bishops' conference.

National Guard members gather at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 12, 2021, in Washington. (CNS/Erin Scott, Reuters)

Links: Preventing future Trumpism; smart, moral advice for Biden

by Michael Sean Winters

Jan 21, 2021

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Hopeful ideas for the singular task of politics today; Ohio's former attorney general urges the new president to go big

Workers in Washington place Biden-Harris inauguration banners on the inaugural parade viewing stand across from the White House Jan. 14. (CNS/Erin Scott, Reuters)

Links: Inaugural addresses, Biden's Catholicism and a warty pig

by Michael Sean Winters

Jan 19, 2021

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Michael Sean Winters on what he considers the only three truly great inaugural addresses in U.S. history.

The inaugural ceremony of John F. Kennedy, Jan. 20, 1961 (Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division/Architect of the Capitol)

Biden and Kennedy: History does not repeat itself

by Michael Sean Winters

Jan 18, 2021

Distinctly Catholic: The day of Biden's inauguration will also be the 60th anniversary of the first time a Catholic became president. Much has changed in church and state. What, then, is the value of historical analogy?

Columns ›

Bishops throw cold water on the most Catholic inauguration in history

Links: Preventing future Trumpism; smart, moral advice for Biden

Links: Inaugural addresses, Biden's Catholicism and a warty pig

Biden and Kennedy: History does not repeat itself

Impeaching Trump (again) was easy compared to defeating Trumpism

Links: Bloodlust of the 'most pro-life president'; Congress' guilty members

Reckoning with our national flirtation with fascism

Links: Moral relativism after Capitol coup, liturgical law and a rogue priest

How to redirect populist anger? Enact alternative minimum corporate tax

Links: Georgia Senate results, the Electoral College and working-class voters

No one has a right to be surprised about the Capitol violence

Looking ahead to 2021 in the life of the church in the US

Links: Seditious lunacy, progressive economic policies and virtual travel

The year in politics: What to expect from 2021?

Links: Great obituary for a great priest

Looking back at 2020 in the life of the church in the US

Links: Governors response to coronavirus, Trump's last-minute deals, cancel culture

A look back at 2020 in politics

Links: Christmas set to music

Pope Francis' great Christmas gift to us all

Links: Homelessness, Georgia runoff elections, vaccines and zealots

COVID-19 and Christmas: Have a pro-life Christmas

Will Republicans work with Biden? Probably not.

Links: 'Deep state' heroes, Trump still whining, identity politics

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