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Michael Sean Winters

Michael Sean Winters is the author of Left At the Altar: How Democrats Lost The Catholics And How Catholics Can Save The Democrats (Basic Books, 2008). His biography of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, God's Right Hand: How Jerry Falwell Made God a Republican and Baptized the American Right was published by Harper One in January 2012 to critical acclaim. 

By this Author

A cross is seen as Pope Francis celebrates Christmas Eve Mass, which was not open to the public, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Dec. 24, 2020. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Opposition to Francis rooted in opposition to Vatican II

Distinctly Catholic: You can spot a Vatican II follower quite easily. Like those early Christians, they display wonderment at the amazing claim at the heart of our faith, the Crucified lives, the tomb is empty. That is why Francis is so appealing, is it not?

President Joe Biden signs executive orders at the White House Feb. 2 in Washington. (CNS/Tom Brenner, Reuters)

Biden's COVID-19 relief plan: Real help is more important than bipartisanship

Distinctly Catholic: President Joe Biden's pledge that he "will not settle" for an inadequate COVID-19 response indicates that he understands the American people deserve a solution.

Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in a video conference call with members of the U.N. Security Council Jan. 15, 2021, at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow. (CNS/Sputnik, Mikhail Klimentyev, Kremlin via Reuters)

Links: Biden's foreign policy challenge and RIP John Sweeney

Distinctly Catholic rounds up political news and commentary: Biden must deal with Putin; Newsmax reaches its limit with Trump; John Sweeney strengthened ties between organized labor and Catholicism

President Donald Trump speaks at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland Jan. 20, 2021, ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. (CNS/Reuters/Carlos Barria)

Time for Republicans to choose: the Constitution or Trump

Distinctly Catholic: Politicians are famous for their willingness to shade the truth in order to preserve their power, but the problem for Republicans is that they do not know how much further off the deep end the former president will yet go.

Detail of engraving proof of "The Cook's Tale, Chaucer's Canterbury Tales" by Francis Chesham, late 18th century (Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Links: Cupich's Vatican visit, cultural commentary and a KC Chiefs hero

Distinctly Catholic rounds up political news and commentary: Kansas City Chiefs' lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif changed his ideas about heroes; Chaucer under financial strain; anti-government party tries to govern

(CNS/David Maung)

Liberal Catholics and the temptation of sectarianism

Distinctly Catholic: Catholicism is a set of beliefs to which we are called to give assent, but the rich life of the Catholic faith is so much more than that. It is "here comes everybody," left, right or center.

A pro-life sign is displayed during the 2019 annual March for Life rally in Washington. (CNS/Tyler Orsburn)

On abortion, both Biden and the pro-life movement lack moral consistency

Distinctly Catholic: How to say this gently? The pro-life movement is the worst thing to happen to the pro-life cause. But that does not let pro-choice Democrats or our new Catholic president off the hook.

The Book of the Gospels in Latin is seen in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 6. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Links: Latin love, a more just economy and Trump lapdogs

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Kaveny's splendid tribute to Foster; build back a more just economy, or risk a return to Trumpism; a successful effort against gentrification in D.C.

Detail of a portrait of Cornelius Jansen (1585-1638), painted circa 1700 (Wikimedia Commons/Museum Catharijneconvent/Ruben de Heer)

Biden, Communion and the functional schism in the US church

Distinctly Catholic: George Weigel's praise of Archbishop Gomez's churlish Inauguration Day statement invites historical comparison to the 17th-century threat of Jansenism. Weigel is flirting with the stuff of schism.

The Oval Office at the White House in Washington Jan. 21, 2021 (CNS/Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

Links: Canceling untruths; censures show which way the wind blows

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Sen. Rand Paul won't say the election wasn't stolen; Sen. Josh Hawley howls about being silenced while on front page; our national hymn, a discussion

Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Biden's wife, Jill, holds the family Bible during his inauguration Jan. 20 at the Capitol in Washington. (CNS/Jim Bourg, Reuters)

Massimo Faggioli's book on Biden and Catholicism explains our critical moment

Distinctly Catholic: Joe Biden and Catholicism in the United States explains the context of this hopeful moment when President Biden and Pope Francis can make common cause on several issues. Get this book.

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

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

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

President-elect Joe Biden is seen on a monitor in the White House Briefing Room Jan. 6, making remarks regarding the supporters of President Donald Trump, who breached security barriers at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington and interrupted the certif

Biden should focus on his role of head of state to unite the country

Commentary: Donald Trump had no grasp of the value of democracy and no ability to employ the symbolic power of his job to fulfill his responsibility as head of state. Joe Biden needs to fill that void.

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

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

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?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., shows the article of impeachment against President Donald Trump after signing it in an engrossment ceremony at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Jan. 13, 2021. (CNS/Reuters/Leah Millis)

Impeaching Trump (again) was easy compared to defeating Trumpism

Distinctly Catholic: Those who care about the future of the republic need to be politically adept, not just morally right. We cannot risk a repeat.

Demonstrators are seen near the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana, to show their opposition to the death penalty July 13, 2020. (CNS/Bryan Woolston, Reuters)

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

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: Lisa Montgomery's execution was judicial murder; Biden team's efforts for 2022 midterms; impeachment may be insufficient; workers fight back

National Guard troops are seen on patrol at the U.S. Capitol in Washington Jan. 9, 2021. (CNS/Tyler Orsburn)

Reckoning with our national flirtation with fascism

Distinctly Catholic: We do not know — and God willing will never be forced to find out — the lengths to which Donald Trump would have gone to preserve his power, but trials must put what did happen Jan. 6 on record.

A reflecting pool is seen near the U.S. Capitol Jan. 9 in Washington. (CNS/Tyler Orsburn)

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

Distinctly Catholic's roundup of political news and commentary: After last week's attack, moral relativism that doesn't pass smell test; Arroyo projects on Fox News; and a beautiful spiritual reflection

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