Modern Martyrs

The Archbishop of Canterbury has called for the full stomachs in his church yelling persecution to cultivate a little perspective. He called attention to the "butchery, intimidation … and harassment" which Christians are undergoing in various countries, and even went so far as to imply that "tangible support" can occasionally rival prayer in efficacy. In suggesting that churchmen might find better uses for their high public profiles than squealing about the many opportunities British Christians have for racking up brownie points with Jesus, Dr Williams mentioned the Salvadorean archbishop Oscar Romero who, despite the no doubt assiduous support of Vatican Incorporated, was murdered for his attempts to defend the rights of the poor against his country's Reaganite government. Pleasant as it is to see that even the Archbishop of Canterbury still has a vestige of pride, it is unfortunate that his most recent major opportunity to lead by example was squandered like so much worldly wealth. Surely one or two Christians must have been killed in Iraq, along with all those lesser casualties.