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Matthew Schmitz is a former senior editor of First Things. 

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First Links — 1.10.12

From First Thoughts

No Evidence Seniors Are Anti-Gay Byron Johnson, Public Discourse The Problem With Compassionate Conservatism Samuel Gregg, National Review Online It’s Not Right-Wing Social Engineering Ross Douthat, New York Times Agrarian Hypocrisy & the Evils of Distributism Mark Mitchell, Front Porch . . . . Continue Reading »

Gayle Trotter on Rick Santorum

From First Thoughts

Evangel writer Gayle Trotter has a nice post on Rick Santorum’s faith over at the Washington Post  site.  Trotter mentions Ann Coulter’s claim that Santorum is more Catholic than he is conservative, citing his support for big-government programs like No Child Left Behind and . . . . Continue Reading »

First Links — 1.9.12

From First Thoughts

Is God Just a Psychological Projection? David G. Bonagura,  Catholic Thing Personal and Political Ross Douthat, New York Times The Second-Rate William Carlos Williams John Stoehr, Jewish Daily Forward Fear of Divorce Runs High Cornell University More Than a Watchmaker Christopher Howse, . . . . Continue Reading »

First Links — 1.6.12

From First Thoughts

The Fight over Bullying Laws Andy Sher, Chattanooga Times Free Press What Will You Tell Your Grandchildren? Luis Tellez, Public Discourse Christopher Hitchens’ Challenge to Catholics John Haldane, Catholic Herald Epiphany & the Persecution of Christ’s Faithful Leroy Huizenga, . . . . Continue Reading »

Archbishop Dolan to be Named a Cardinal

From First Thoughts

I had heard that a big announcement would be coming today for New York’s Catholics, and here it is: Archbishop Timothy Dolan is to receive the cardinal’s red hat. All our best wishes to Archbishop Dolan as he leads the New York church into the new year and, we hope, many more years to . . . . Continue Reading »

First Links — 1.5.12

From First Thoughts

Why Fight Same-Sex Marriage? Douglas Farrow, Touchstone Pharmacists’ Conscience Rights on Trial Ed Whelan , Bench Memos Gingrich, Desegregation, and Judicial Supremacy Joel Alicea, Public Discourse The Case Against Pepper Sara Dickerman, Slate The Front Porch Strikes Back Jerry Salyer, Front . . . . Continue Reading »

First Links — 1.4.12

From First Thoughts

Shift in Chinese Propaganda Emphasizes Two-Child Families Evan Osnos,  The New Yorker The Gift of the Guild Matthew Milliner, Millinerd Margaret Sanger’s Ideology of Control Angela Franks, Public Discourse How Luther Went Viral The Economist The Mother of Meaning: Connecting the Infant . . . . Continue Reading »

John Haldane on Michael Dummett

From First Thoughts

Writing in the Scotsman , John Haldane remembers recently deceased Catholic philosopher Michael Dummett: Between Christmas and New Year, Britain lost its greatest living philosopher. Sir Michael Dummett was 86 and he died at the home in Oxford which he had shared with his wife Ann for the last half . . . . Continue Reading »

First Links — 1.3.12

From First Thoughts

Arab Democracy Best Bet for Muslim Reformation Wall Street Journal , Matthew Kaminski Iowa’s “Uneducated Jesus Freaks” Get Religion , Mollie Ziegler Hemingway Leave the Christ in Christmas & the Lennon in Lennon CNN, Stephen Prothero 2011 in Charts The Economist Divorce Rate . . . . Continue Reading »

Missionaries of Democracy?

From First Thoughts

Walter Russell Mead asks whether the striking global growth of Christianity will lead to a growth in democracy: One interesting speculation: the push toward democracy in many countries has been led by Christian laypeople and religious organizations.  (That was not true 100 years ago; outside . . . . Continue Reading »