If you don't know who Christopher Hitchens is (was) then you would do well to get out more.
I'm not sure what my first exposure to Hitchens was, but of the New Athiests (most notably, Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and he) he was definitely the one I took more interest in. I found his demeanor to be much less childish than Dawkins or Harris; he seemed to have actual questions and concerns at the heart of his arguments rather than immature pettiness. His wit was undeniable and rarely matched, and his writing, sharp. I regretfully did not have much exposure to the vastness of his expertise save from God Is Not Great and debates/discussions against the likes of Rev. Al Sharpton, Todd Friel, and William Lane Craig. While I found (and still find) his scientific arguments against intelligent design rather compelling, I thought his Biblical exegetical skills were poorly developed and disappointingly lacking.
The Church needs men in this world like Christopher Hitchens; for one, to unconditionally, selflessly love. And two, to hammer out what we think, or believe, to be true. Without the unorthodox there is no orthodox.
I don't presume to judge where Christopher Hitchens exists right now. I wasn't there when he went face to face with God. It's not my call.
I do hope though, that some of the faithful will develop a kind of backbone like Hitchens had.