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Matthew Schmitz is a former senior editor of First Things. 

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Why Christians Loved Christopher Hitchens

From First Thoughts

Christians are commanded to love all men, but Ross Douthat explains why they had a particular and surprising affection for one of their most unrelenting antagonists: American Christian intellectual life is sustained today, to a large extent, by the work of writers very much like Hitchens — by . . . . Continue Reading »

Antonio de Montesinos, 500 Years Later

From First Thoughts

500 years ago this Sunday, the Dominicans friars of the Spanish colony of Hispaniola called the Spanish colonists to repentance for their gross mistreatment of the native population. The stirring words of Antonio de Montesinos’ homily for Fourth Advent—-which shocked the unsuspecting . . . . Continue Reading »

Tim Tebow and the Atheocracy

From First Thoughts

First Things is a magazine devoted to exploring issues of religion and public life, and like it or not the biggest such issue today is the debate over Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. I’m not at all surprised that many his find his public displays of piety off-putting, but I have been struck by . . . . Continue Reading »

Reproductive Health of Yesteryear

From First Thoughts

A North Carolina reproductive health program that once received wide elite support is under fire: Over all, about 70 percent of the North Carolina operations took place after 1945, and many of them were on poor young women and racial minorities. [ . . . ] The program, while not specifically devised . . . . Continue Reading »

R.R. Reno on the Liturgy

From First Thoughts

Thomas More College now has posted the video of a recent talk R.R. Reno gave on the ancient roots of today’s liturgy: You can find related videos by people like Anthony Esolen and George Rutler on Thomas More College’s video channel . . . . . Continue Reading »

Anonymous Father’s Day

From First Thoughts

Readers of First Things may be interested in a new documentary on sperm donation called  Anonymous Father’s Day .  The film had drawn high praise from some diverse sources. Here’s Kathleen Sloan of the National Organization of Women: Anonymous Father’s Day  gives a . . . . Continue Reading »

The Social Costs of Smut

From First Thoughts

A study by British researchers has found that men and women are unable to detect any difference between statements on women made by convicted rapists and those drawn from so-called “lads’ mags.” More from the University of Surrey: The research due to be published in the British . . . . Continue Reading »