Michael Sean Winters of National Catholic Reporter, a fellow at the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies (where I am also a fellow), has a nice piece in the The Daily Beast, where he discusses three groups of Catholics operating in contemporary American politics: old-style Democratic politicians, a new breed of Catholic Republicans, and those who are “willing to break with their party’s orthodoxy and stake out positions that are more in line with the church.”

He highlights the difficulties associated with being a member of the third group, including the efforts of Susan B. Anthony List to fabricate lies about Obamacare in order to purge pro-life Democrats from Congress.  Pro-life Democrats face reprisals for their positions from both the Democratic Party and organizations that are supposed to be non-partisan and anti-abortion.

MSW then discusses “a new generation of young, politically engaged Catholics who are tired of the culture wars and want to move past what they think is a largely sterile debate within Catholicism’s liberal and conservative wings.”  He quotes me discussing those who are “disappointed and frustrated with the political choices they have” and the antigovernment rhetoric used by members of both parties, which “doesn’t resonate with people who believe that government can and should play an affirmative role in promoting the common good.”