Islamists vs. Jesus in Post-Christian Britain

The battle of Biblical proportions is raging in Great Britain judging by the rhetoric of the current prime minister who claims Britain is a Christian nation, and the former Archbishop of Canterbury who claims Britain is now "post-Christian," and finally the former prime minister who says that Britain's real threat is Islamists Hell-bent on killing "infidels."

"The threat of this radical Islam is not abating. It is growing. It is spreading across the world. It is destabilising communities and even nations. It is undermining the possibility of peaceful co-existence in an era of globalisation."
-- Tony Blair, former prime minister

For background, read the myriad professing Christians arrested in the UK, and the court cases ruling against Christians.

Also read Christians Becoming Extinct in 9 Western Nations as well as European Union Drops Christmas in Favor of Non-christians

. . . and on this side of the pond, Congress: America No Longer a Christian Nation as demonstrated by President Obama's National Cathedral: the Seat of Apostasy

In addition, read American Decline: President Obama's Gay Agenda vs. Christians



-- From "Stand up for our Christianity, David Cameron tells UK" posted at BBC News 4/16/14

Britons should be "more confident about our status as a Christian country", Prime Minister David Cameron has said.

Although he described himself as a "classic" member of the Church of England - "not that regular in attendance, and a bit vague on some of the more difficult parts of the faith" - he rejected the idea that in an "ever more secular age" people should not talk about their religion.

"Crucially, the Christian values of responsibility, hard work, charity, compassion, humility, and love are shared by people of every faith and none - and we should be confident in standing up to defend them," he wrote.

Last week, in his Easter message, he spoke of the "peace" he found in Christianity.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Cameron’s Description of Britain as ‘Christian Country’ Draws an Angry Response" by Steven Erlanger, New York Times 4/21/14

The fuss over the [prime minister's] remarks fit into the debates on national identity that are going on all over Western Europe, in the face of increasing immigration, especially from non-Christian societies. The debate is particularly striking in Britain, an ancient kingdom . . .

[PM David Cameron] wrote: “I believe we should be more confident about our status as a Christian country, more ambitious about expanding the role of faith-based organizations, and, frankly, more evangelical about a faith that compels us to get out there and make a difference to people’s lives.” Britain has an established church, the Church of England, which is Christian and whose “supreme governor” is the queen; Mr. Cameron is a member.

But his effort to head off criticism failed, and his article prompted a four-paragraph letter to the British daily newspaper The Telegraph, signed by 56 prominent people, including scientists, authors, broadcasters and comedians. . . .

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Former archbishop of Canterbury: We are a post-Christian nation" by Tim Ross, Cole Moreton and James Kirkup, UK Telegraph 4/26/14

Britain is now a “post-Christian” country, the former archbishop of Canterbury has declared, as research suggests that the majority of Anglicans and Roman Catholics now feel afraid to express their beliefs.

. . . an exclusive poll for The Telegraph today discloses . . .

• Almost two-thirds of practising Christians appear to be frightened of speaking out about their beliefs. The poll found 62 per cent saying the rise of religious fundamentalism had made Christians afraid to express their faith;

• Widespread concerns also emerge over the perceived vulnerability of Christians in the UK to abuse or discrimination. Sixty-two per cent of people who hold Christian beliefs but do not worship regularly say they feel Christians are given “less protection” than other religious groups by the state.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Rowan Williams Says Britain Is a 'Post-Christian' Nation" By Anugrah Kumar, Christian Post Contributor 4/28/14

Britain is "post-Christian in the sense that habitual practice for most of the population is not taken for granted," Williams, who is now master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, told The Telegraph in an interview. "A Christian nation can sound like a nation of committed believers, and we are not that."

He expects "a further shrinkage of awareness and commitment" due to a lack of knowledge about Britain's Christian legacy among younger generations, who could bring "a certain freshness" as they will not see Christianity as "the boring old stuff that we learned at school."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Tony Blair: west must take sides against growing threat of radical Islam" by Patrick Wintour, political editor, UK Guardian 4/23/14

Western military intervention in the Middle East has so far failed due to the distorting impact of an Islamic extremism so opposed to modernity that it could yet engender global catastrophe, Tony Blair warned on Wednesday in a keynote speech on the state of politics in the Middle East.

[He urged the west] to counter the Islamic extremism that lies at the root of all failures of western intervention.

He said: "For the last 40 to 50 years, there has been a steady stream of funding, proselytising, organising and promulgating coming out of the Middle East, pushing views of religion that are narrow minded and dangerous. Unfortunately we seem blind to the enormous global impact such teaching has had and is having.

Insisting that the west had to take sides, he described Islamic extremism as "not about a competing view of how society or politics should be governed within a common space where you accept other views are equally valid. It is exclusivist in nature. The ultimate goal is not a society which someone else can change after winning an election. It is a society of a fixed polity, governed by religious doctrines that are not changeable but which are, of their essence, unchangeable."

"But what is absolutely necessary is that we first liberate ourselves from our own attitude. We have to take sides. We have to stop treating each country on the basis of whatever seems to make for the easiest life for us at any one time. We have to have an approach to the region that is coherent and sees it as a whole. And above all, we have to commit. We have to engage"

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read CBS News Gives Voice to Atheists, Heretics, & Apostates

Pope Welcomes Christians Leaving Anglicanism over Liberalism

Disillusioned by the pro-homosexual, feminist trend within pockets of Anglicanism, clergy and laity of the Church of England, and the Anglican Church in Australia, are joining the Ordinariate - a special structure established by the Pope - while the liberal insurgents within the Catholic Church grumble.



-- From "Vatican Welcomes First Anglicans Converting Under New Rules" by Rachel Donadio, New York Times 1/25/11

The Vatican angered many Anglicans, including the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury, when it announced the new structure in October 2009, because it appeared to upend decades of interfaith dialogue by implying that the Roman Catholic Church sought to encourage the conversion of Anglicans, especially those uncomfortable with the Church of England’s ordination of women and openly gay priests.

In the first concrete result of the Vatican’s offer, the archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, presided . . . over the conversions of three traditionalist Anglican bishops at Westminster Cathedral in London, the Vatican said in a statement.

The new structure, called a Personal Ordinariate, allows groups of Anglicans to convert while preserving some elements of Anglican liturgy and other traditions, including in some cases married clergy.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "The faithful lose in this victory for misogyny" editorial posted at U.K. Guardian 1/16/11

The [British] Catholic leader Archbishop Vincent Nichols tried at the [recent ordination of three former Anglican bishops as Catholic priests] to make the best of an arrangement with which he is privately thought to be uncomfortable. But however it is dressed up, this was the Catholic church fixated on stealing a march on Anglicanism. It is as if the Reformation was a recent score to be settled.

The establishment of a special ordinariate where former Anglicans who reject women's ordination can carry on much as before, but within the Catholic fold, can only cause tension between the two churches. That in its turn will focus attention once again on disputes between different branches of Christianity, and make religion look out of touch with the real world.

. . . Many British Catholics who want no part of this game of ecclesiastical power politics are left despairing. Those of other faiths or none, and of even moderately enlightened disposition, will be more inclined to turn their backs in anger.

To read the entire editorial above, CLICK HERE.

From "Former Anglicans could share old churches, says head of Ordinariate" posted at London Telegraph 1/18/11

In some of his first comments since being appointed “Ordinary” – the leader of the world’s first Personal Ordinariate – Fr [Keith] Newton said he hoped his group could share properties with the Church of England in “specific places”.

His suggestion is likely to be controversial because, while old churches in England belonged to Rome before the Reformation, many Anglicans believe that those who “cross the Tiber” have given up all right to use them. In most cases, the Catholic Church is expected to have to provide new buildings for the Ordinariate to use.

The possibility of church-sharing in London, where many Anglo-Catholics live and worship, has already been ruled out by the city’s powerful bishop, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has said that “working out shared use of churches” will be a “challenge” of the new scheme.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Dissident Anglicans step closer to Rome" by Leesha McKenny, The Sydney Morning Herald 1/29/11

Up to 50 clergy and laity will gather for the first time nationally at St Stephen's College at Coomera for three days from Tuesday to discuss the Australian Anglican ordinariate - the local framework which will allow them to keep their married clergy, liturgy and church structures within Catholicism.

The prominent Sydney barrister John McCarthy, QC, has been briefed to advise the main dissident group of conservatives, the breakaway Traditional Anglican Communion, on constitutional and legal issues arising from the historic move.

The world Traditional Anglican Communion Primate, Adelaide-based Archbishop John Hepworth, was confident the group's assets, such as properties or trust funds, would not be forfeited once the ordinariate becomes official later this year. But he conceded in the case of assets owned by the mainstream Anglican communion it would be a question of "goodwill".

The re-ordination of four Australian Traditional Anglican Communion bishops, a retired Anglican bishop, a Japanese bishop and 24 Anglican priests is expected to be finalised by June 12.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Benedict the Ecumenist" by John Gerardi, The Daily Caller 1/30/11

. . . liberalism infected the Church of England so much that its teachings changed at exactly the same pace as the dominant culture changed. It was the first Christian body to accept the morality of contraception, at the 1930 Lambeth Conference. It shifted its positions on the all-male priesthood, and then (in the Episcopal Church, and soon in the Church of England) on the all-male episcopate, breaking with nearly 2,000 years of Christian practice. Many Anglicans have even come to accept the morality of abortion and the blessing of homosexual unions; the Episcopal Church even went so far as to embrace the openly homosexual Eugene Robinson as a bishop in good standing.

For the past 45 years, Catholics have been involved in ecumenical discussions with this increasingly liberal group through the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), in attempts to foster greater “unity” between the two bodies. . . .

Cardinal Ratzinger was not very enthusiastic about these fake shows. He put a stop to the worst of these “joint statements,” a ludicrous betrayal of the Catholic faith known as the ARCIC Final Report. . . .

Fast-forward to 2009. At the urging of sizable groups of Anglicans who truly desired unity with the Catholic Church but wished to preserve some aspects of their Anglican identity, Pope Benedict issued Anglicanorum Coetibus, a legislative document that would facilitate the conversion of Anglicans to the Church on a corporate level.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Click headlines below to read previous articles:

Episcopal Church: Ordaining and 'Marrying' Homosexuals

As Homosexualists Enter, the Sacred Leave Episcopal Church

American Anglicans Ratify Constitution

Who Owns Church Property in ECUSA?

Episcopal Diocese Boots Christian Congregation from Building in Favor of Muslims

Judge: Preacher Wrongly Arrested for 'Hate Speech'

[British] Police have been ordered to pay compensation to a Christian street preacher who was hauled off in handcuffs for saying that gays will go to hell.

-- From "Payout for anti-gay preacher over arrest: Landmark ruling in Christian's battle for free speech" by Steve Doughty, UK Daily Mail 12/10/10

A judge condemned the arrest of Anthony Rollins, who quoted the King James Bible on the subject of the ‘effeminate’ as he preached in Birmingham.

Mr Rollins was handcuffed and then held in a cell for nearly four hours after a passer-by dialled 999 and complained that his language was ‘hugely offensive’.

The ruling – which ended with West Midlands police ordered to pay more than £4,000 in damages to the 45-year-old preacher – appears to set a new landmark in the battle between the gay lobby and Christians who want to say in public that homosexual sex is wrong.

It comes as Christian leaders, notably former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey, have been complaining against the use of equality law to force Christians to act against their consciences.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Birmingham street preacher wins wrongful arrest case" posted at The Christian Institute 12/10/10

In a case backed by The Christian Institute, Birmingham County Court ruled on Wednesday that [Police Constable] Adrian Bill committed assault and battery against Mr Anthony Rollins when he handcuffed him unnecessarily.

On 24 June 2008 Mr Rollins was preaching from the King James Bible in Birmingham city centre. He expressed his Christian belief that homosexual conduct is morally wrong.

A member of the public, Mr John Edwards, objected to Mr Rollins’ message and shouted “homophobic bigot” before calling 999 and asking for the police. Two officers arrived on the scene and PC Adrian Bill arrested Mr Rollins without further inquiry. Handcuffs were placed on Mr Rollins even though he was calm and compliant.

The judge . . . [said] that the police conduct was incompatible with Mr Rollins’ human rights to free speech and religious liberty.

The Christian Institute’s Mike Judge said . . . “Whether you agree with Mr Rollins’ beliefs or not, surely we all value free speech. Christians are tired of being put on trial for their beliefs. There is clearly a problem with the Public Order Act and it needs fixing.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Christians Ejected from Episcopal Bishop Consecration

At the ceremony to consecrate the first lesbian bishop of the ECUSA, all dissenting Christians were forcibly removed, lest there be an objection to the apostasy.

-- From "Episcopal Church consecrates woman as its 2d gay bishop" by Associated Press 5/17/10

The Episcopal Church has consecrated a woman as its second openly gay bishop, seven years after stirring lingering controversy by elevating a man to a similar post.

The Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool of Baltimore was ordained and consecrated Saturday. It also makes her one of the first two female bishops in the 114-year history of the Diocese of Los Angeles.

Just before the ceremony began, a man stood, shouted about the need to repent, and held up a sign that read “Do not be deceived, homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God."

After he was escorted out, a young boy in the same section rose holding a Bible and shouted similar slogans. Security guards also led him out.

The Rev. Canon Diane M. Jardine Bruce of San Clemente, Calif., also was ordained Saturday.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "L.A. region's first two female Episcopal bishops are ordained" by Mitchell Landsberg, Los Angeles Times 5/15/10

There was a moment on Saturday when even the usually unflappable J. Jon Bruno, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles, held his breath.

It was the point when the 3,000 people at the Long Beach Arena were asked if anyone had any objections to the ordination of the region's first two female bishops, one of whom is the first lesbian bishop ordained by the Episcopal Church.

"I don't think there's anybody in this place who was more nervous than I was," Bruno said a short time later in his sermon.

But the moment passed in silence, and the two women — Diane Jardine Bruce and Mary Douglas Glasspool — were ordained to applause and cheers. Bruno said the church was "fuller and richer and more vital" as a result.

The head of the church, Rowan Williams, the archbishop of Canterbury, said after Glasspool's election in March that it was "regrettable" and could threaten the unity of the communion.

Although no one raised any objections about the ordinations when asked during the service, it was not without disruption. A handful of protesters stood outside the arena, carrying signs and yelling slogans decrying homosexuality. And early in the service, shortly after Bruce and Jardine had taken the stage, a man seated near the front of the arena stood, waved a placard and begin shouting: "Repent of the sins of the homosexual! Repent of the sin of abortion!"

As security guards led him off, the man continued yelling. "It's an abomination! Repent! The Bible says homosexuals will not enter …" and his voice trailed off.

As the ceremony resumed, a young boy in a white shirt stood up, holding aloft what appeared to be a Bible. "Repent!" he began yelling to the startled arena. "Repent!" As he was led out, a voice called out, "We're praying for you!" The audience applauded.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Episcopal Lesbian is Second Homosexual ECUSA Bishop

A majority of bishops and dioceses of the Episcopal Church have approved the election of the church’s second openly gay bishop, the Rev. Mary D. Glasspool, a decision likely to increase the tension with fellow Anglican churches around the world that do not approve of homosexuality.

-- From "Annapolis priest is first openly lesbian bishop for Episcopalians" by Matthew Hay Brown, Baltimore Sun 3/18/10

The Episcopal Church has confirmed the election of an Annapolis priest as the first openly lesbian bishop in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The Rev. Mary Douglas Glasspool, who has served in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland since 1992, said Wednesday that she was "overjoyed and overwhelmed" by news that a majority of bishops and diocesan committees had approved her election as assistant bishop in the Diocese of Los Angeles.

Her confirmation is likely to further strain relations in a church that has lost members, parishes and dioceses over differences on homosexuality. One prominent traditionalist said he was "saddened but not surprised" by her confirmation.

"It is contrary to the teaching of Holy Scripture and the mind of the church catholic," said the Rev. Kendall Harmon, canon theologian of the Diocese of South Carolina. "One would have hoped that at least the bishops would have waited until they were gathered at their coming House of Bishops meeting to discern prayerfully their response together. They instead sought to embrace a way of life which the church through the Bible has always understood to be forbidden."

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Episcopalians Confirm a Second Gay Bishop" by Laurie Goodstein, New York Times 3/17/10

The worldwide Anglican Communion, the network of churches connected to the Church of England, has been in turmoil since the Americans elected their first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, in New Hampshire in 2003. Theological conservatives in the Communion say the Bible condemns homosexuality, while liberals say the Scripture is open to interpretation.

Bishop Glasspool, 56, is to be consecrated as one of two new assistant bishops, known as suffragan bishops, in Los Angeles on May 15. Both elected suffragan bishops are women — the first ever to serve in the diocese.

She and her partner, Becki Sander, a postgraduate student in social work, have been together for 22 years.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, the leader of the Church of England and spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, issued a warning in December that Bishop Glasspool’s election “raises very serious questions not just for the Episcopal Church and its place in the Anglican Communion, but for the Communion as a whole.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Archbishop of Canterbury Recommends Atheist Writer

Archbishop Rowan Williams commends the atheist for taking the 'Christian myth' and the church 'seriously,' thus reviving relevance to theology.

-- From "Philip Pullman helps understanding of theology, says Archbishop of Canterbury" by Stephen Adams, Arts Correspondent 5/28/09

Citing Pullman as one of his favourite modern writers, Dr Rowan Williams said he liked his work because it took the church "seriously" at a time when theology was "drifting out" of mainstream thought.

Pullman has been castigated by parts of the Roman Catholic church, particularly in North America, as many consider the trilogy His Dark Materials to be a veiled attack on it.

Although he stressed he disagreed with Pullman's atheistic view, he commended his "search for some way of talking about human value, human depth and three-dimensionality, that doesn't depend on God."

He agreed with the thrust of Pullman's novels that religious authorities must not silence the "demons" that people carry with them – the essential "internal conversation" between good and evil.

In 2007 Roman Catholic groups called for a boycott of the film The Golden Compass, starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, which was based on Northern Lights, the first book in the trilogy.

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League in the United States, described the books as "atheism for kids".

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Non-liberal Bishops Boycott Anglican Conference

“Even the Pope is elected by his peers. But what Anglicans have is a man appointed by a secular government. Over the past five years, we have come to see this as a remnant of British colonialism, and it is not serving us well.”

-- From "Rowan Williams betrayed churches over gay bishop, says African leader" by Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent, The Times (London) 8/1/08

A leading conservative cleric has launched a devastating attack on the Archbishop of Canterbury, accusing him of “betrayal” and calling his office a “remnant of imperial colonialism”.

Writing in The Times, the Most Rev Henry Orombi, Archbishop of Uganda, says [Archbishop of Canterbury] Rowan Williams has betrayed churches that remain true to the Bible by inviting colleagues who consecrated the openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire to the Lambeth Conference.

Archbishop Orombi, a leader of the conservative Global South bishops and one of 230 to boycott the conference, indicates that to ensure long-term unity, future Anglican leaders will need to be more representative of the wider Church.

His comments came as Dr Williams survived the most difficult day of the Lambeth Conference with the communion intact. In closed discussions about homosexuality, bishops agreed to differ peacefully for the sake of unity. Early indications are that his strategy of running a conference without votes or resolutions and based around the African-style indaba process of conflict resolution groups has paid off, at least for the time being.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Archbishop of Canterbury Calls for Alliance with Islam

-- From "Archbishop of Canterbury: 'Christian doctrine is offensive to Muslims'" by Steve Doughty at The Daily Mail 7/15/08

Christian doctrine is offensive to Muslims, the Archbishop of Canterbury said yesterday.

Dr Rowan Williams also criticised Christianity's history for its violence, its use of harsh punishments and its betrayal of its peaceful principles.

His comments came in a highly conciliatory letter to Islamic leaders calling for an alliance between the two faiths for 'the common good'.

But it risked fresh controversy for the Archbishop in the wake of his pronouncement earlier this year that a place should be found for Islamic sharia law in the British legal system.

He also said the Christian belief in the Trinity - that God is Father, Son and Holy Ghost at the same time - 'is difficult, sometimes offensive, to Muslims'.

Dr Williams added: 'It is all the more important for the sake of open and careful dialogue that we try to clarify what we do and do not mean by it, and so I trust that what follows will be read in this spirit.'

[Williams called for 'religious plurality' saying,] 'We can together speak for those who have no voice or leverage in society - for the poorest, the most despised, the least powerful, for women and children, for migrants and minorities; and even to speak together for the great encompassing reality that has no voice of its own, our injured and abused material environment.'

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

Conservative Anglicans Worldwide Jointly Challenge Recognition of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Conservatives conclude that Anglicans in Britain and North America are now following a "false gospel" that allows a malleable, liberal interpretation of Scripture.

-- From "Anglican Church conservatives move to form power bloc" by Laurie Goodstein and Dina Kraft, International Herald Tribune 6/29/08

Anglican conservatives, frustrated by the ongoing stalemate over homosexuality in the Anglican Communion, declared Sunday that they would defy the church's historic lines of authority and establish a new power bloc within the church that will be led by a council of predominantly African archbishops.

The announcement came at the close of an unprecedented meeting in Jerusalem by conservatives, who contend that they represent a majority of the 77 million members of the Anglican Communion.

A statement the delegates issued in Jerusalem said that it was time to establish a branch in the United States and Canada that would absorb the churches that have been outraged by the American church's consecration of an openly gay bishop in 1993 and the Canadian church's blessing of same-sex unions.

The conservatives said that while they acknowledge Canterbury's historic position, they did not accept the idea "that Anglican identity is determined necessarily through recognition by the archbishop of Canterbury."

Some liberal American bloggers sought to play down the conservatives' actions, dismissing them as an attempt to hijack the Communion when, in their view, there are much more important issues for the church to confront, like poverty, AIDS and global warming.

To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.

UK: Anglican Archbishop Endorses Sharia Law for British Muslims

Multiculturalism gone mad...

From "The Archbishop and Sharia" by Chuck Colson, posted 2/25/08 at Townhall.com

There are an estimated 1.6 million Muslims in Great Britain. By some estimates, more people attend mosque than go to Anglican churches every week. Judging by recent comments by the Archbishop of Canterbury, it is easy to see why.

As most of you by now know, Archbishop Rowan William said in a recent interview that the “UK has to ‘face up to the fact’ that some of its citizens do not relate to the British legal system.” He left no doubt who those “citizens” are: British Muslims.

So according to Williams, British Muslims should not have to choose between “the stark alternatives of cultural loyalty or state loyalty.” Instead, in the tradition of having your cake and eating it too, he proposes finding “a constructive accommodation with some aspects of Muslim law”—in other words, sharia.

British Muslims could choose to have “marital” or “financial” disputes resolved in sharia courts. Sharia courts in Britain? At first I thought the Archbishop misspoke.

But it turns out, no. He calls this “supplementary jurisdiction” unavoidable. He compared it to accommodating Christians in areas like abortion or gay adoption.

With all due respect to the Archbishop, there is no such parallel. The only thing that is unavoidable here is his failure to see sharia as it is practiced in the real world, as opposed to in seminars. As the Asia Times columnist “Spengler” put it, Williams is conceding “a permanent role to extralegal violence in the political life of England.”

In real-world Muslim communities throughout Europe, coercion is so commonplace “that duly-constituted governments there” no longer wield justice among its citizens. The imams do. And where would the Archbishop draw the line? At husbands beating their wives for wearing Western clothes or maybe stoning a woman accused of adultery?

Read the rest of this commentary.