Matthew Schmitz

“I have said that it is not a common thing to meet an American who belongs to no denomination of Christian worship. This I think is so: but I would not wish to be taken as saying that religion on that account stands on a satisfactory footing in the States. Of all subjects of discussion, this . . . . Continue Reading »

After its upcoming debut was announced, rumors abounded as to which Twitter handle the Vatican would use for personal tweets from Pope Benedict XVI. Rocco Palmo suggested it might be @BenedictusPPXVI . The real address, which will be updated beginning on December 12, is @Pontifex —-an . . . . Continue Reading »

In response to my criticisms of the thoughtful—-but ultimately misguided—-defense of anti-Sharia laws published by John Witte in  Christianity Today , Matthew   Tuininga worries that while legal neutrality works in theory it falls apart in practice : In  theory  an . . . . Continue Reading »

Mike Murphy issues another call for the GOP to abandon social issues, to which Ben Domenech responds with some demographic debunking : Mitt Romney won white voters under 30, even winning white women under 30. The youth voter barrier to the Republican Party is really the same barrier as it is for . . . . Continue Reading »

From the Vatican Information Service : Today’s vote manifests the sentiment of the majority of the international community and recognises a more significant presence to Palestinians within the United Nations. At the same time, it is the conviction of the Holy See that this result does not . . . . Continue Reading »

The AP’s decision to drop the use of the word “homophobia” has been met with wide approval among Christian and other moral traditionalists. This presents a problem, however, for those who have grown accustomed to using the term “Christophobia.” The AP recommended . . . . Continue Reading »

The Associated Press has removed “homophobia,” among other terms, from its style guide. Dylan Byers reports : The online Style Book now says that “-phobia,” “an irrational, uncontrollable fear, often a form of mental illness” should not be used “in . . . . Continue Reading »

The journal  Demography  has published a reexamination of a 2010 study that found no significant differences between same-sex and opposite-sex parenting outcomes. William C. Duncan  reports : The journal  Demography  has just published a very  interesting article . . . . Continue Reading »

Anthony Esolen indulged in a little sarcasm in a recent appearance on “Fox & Friends,” which led to some confused anchors and even more confused headlines. The Daily Mail described his appearance as a “furious rant.” Hence the title of this post. . . . . Continue Reading »

In a discussion of the classic spiritual “Sit Down, Servant”—-performed above by the Staple Singers—-a friend pointed out the parallel between the song’s chorus and the last stanza of George Herbert’s “Love (III).” Love (III) by George Herbert Love . . . . Continue Reading »