Alberto Hurtado at Southern Appeal laments what he feels it the loss of edge and relevance in the print version of First Things, as he reflects on how he found himself able to let his subscription lapse. There’s an element on truth in his lament, but it’s not really anyone’s fault: Fr. Richard John Neuhaus is simply irreplaceable. At some point, some equally exciting figure may emerge at First Things or elsewhere to lead the ecumenical movement from the Catholic side and help restore Christianity (and Christian culture) in America. But when and if such a luminary appears, we can expect the graced publication to look and feel dramatically different than under the old Neuhaus days.