De Profundis

Those who say nothing good ever comes from religion need to grapple with the heroism of Burma's monks and now the support of Burma's Christians:

Persecuted Christians in Burma are showing unequivocal support for Buddhist monks who have been leading pro-democracy marches against the country's military Government, a leading human-rights activist who has just returned from the region has said.

Members of the predominantly Christian Chin tribe in western Burma have been holding pro-democracy rallies in the state capital of Hakha, mirroring those taking place across the country, said Baroness Cox of Queensbury, chief executive of the humanitarian charity Hart and a cross-bench member of the House of Lords.

In totalitarian countries, religious communities are often the last refuge of the hounded soul. From the monks of Burma to the priests and nuns of Communist Poland, faith can keep hope alive.