gtk and X resources

[jcb+gtk dcs ed ac uk]

I would like my X application built with gtk to be a good citizen and
obey all the X resource settings, without requiring the user (me) to
hack special gtkrc files for it.
(Why? Because I know better that any stuck-up application what
background colour, fonts etc. work on a given display, and I don't see why I
should write lots of horrible hacks to auto-generate gtkrc files
when my X startup sets all the right resources.)

I can't see how to do this: in fact, I can't see any mention of X
resources anywhere, though maybe I haven't looked closely.

Does this mean I have to write an entire X resource handling add-on to
GDK/GTK? 

More generally, how does one write GTK applications so they can be
customized by the user? With netscape, for example, every prompt,
every menu item, every message, every key-binding, is customizable by
setting appropriate resources. I don't off-hand see how to do the same
for GTK applications, without writing extra code in the application.

(If it does mean I have to write the X resource handling add-on, then
don't hold your breath...)