The other great think-piece of the post-Cold War period was Francis Fukuyama's "The End of History." Published in 1989, before the fall of the Berlin Wall, it argued that liberal democracy had conquered, once and for all, rival ideologies such as fascism and communism. But Fukuyama went from seeming prescient to seeming overoptimistic within just a few years. In particular, Bosnia's civil war showed how history might actually resume with a vengeance in some post-communist societies.

The Right to Justice campaign has a twofold aim: Firstly, inform the elected representatives of governments in as many Western countries as possible of the widespread religious discrimination and injustices daily suffered by Christian minorities in many countries across the world. Secondly, ask these governments to put pressure on the leaders of those countries where such discrimination and injustices occur to try to bring about an end to the sufferings of the Christian minority.

Protest marches continued during the week in many countries. Reports said police in Islamabad fired tear gas to disperse a crowd of 6000.

Last week, the Pope spoke of a 60-year-old priest from Rome, Fr Andrea Santoro, reportedly killed by a 16-year-old boy while praying in his parish church in Trabzon, Turkey. Many now think he should be made a saint. His death had been seen as linked to the protests.

A similar incident of near-simultaneous explosions at Iraqi churches happened on Sunday 1st August 2004 during the time of the evening service. Four churches in Baghdad and one in Mosul were bombed on that occasion, with some 15 fatalities.

LINKS WITH DANISH CARTOONS?