From the May/Jun, 2026 issue of *Touchstone*

Quodlibet

S. M. Hutchens Stepping Down

by J. Douglas Johnson

It is with deep regret that we received word of Steve Hutchens’s retirement after almost four decades of generous editorial service to this journal and its readers (though I suspect we haven’t heard the last of him).

When I first started reading Touchstone, I often turned to Mortal Remains first to see what this Hutchens guy had to say this time around. Determined to be the Last Protestant Standing, he was perhaps most apt to offend our Catholic readers, who also happened to be among his most loyal readers, including Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, as well as Sister Patricia Keilty of Rhode Island, who passed away a few years ago at the age of 103. Anthony Esolen reports that whenever he visited Sister Patricia, she always asked him to send on her regards and high praise to Steve. I also recall one stamped and sealed letter that arrived in our office addressed to Steve that read simply, “Thank you.”

A few years ago, a particularly unflinching Catholic friend of mine walked on stage to give Steve an earful after one of his conference talks, and I remember they were still politely going at it with smiles on their faces even after the chapel had largely cleared for lunch.

When the senior editors disagreed about what to do with a particular submission and I needed to hear a voice that was decidedly not on the fence, I could always count on Steve to clear the dust, often with gale-force winds. As one editor commented: “We need to hear your voice, which isn’t like anyone else’s that I know of, and your trenchant criticisms of the various communions of Christians, all of which have a great deal to repent of, as you say, though we might amongst ourselves have partly different views as to what those sins are.”

Another editor put it this way: “While we all see things differently and sometimes disagree rather sharply, the great privilege of being involved with Touchstone is the opportunity to have one’s views—sometimes unthinking views—challenged by men whom one knows to be faithful followers of our Lord Christ Jesus, and who can, therefore, be trusted to speak in good faith. The experience helps us all to sharpen our understanding and deepen our faith. No one exemplifies this process better than you.”

One more: “It has been to my great benefit to have listened to you and read your writings over the years. Indeed, yours has been a ‘conscience speaking to a conscience,’ a favorite phrase of Russell Kirk’s, which he also employed to describe what he found in the pages of Touchstone—thanks in part to you.”

Steve retires with the blessing of our prayers and gratitude for his long service, while he assures us, “I remain a friend and ally of you all and a supporter of the magazine.” So with good wishes, in friendship, and with prayer, we carry on.

J. Douglas Johnson is the executive editor of Touchstone and the executive director of the Fellowship of St. James.

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