It is probably unwise for a persecuted minority to show any degree of triumphalism.Unwise, but immensely tempting. When you've been kicked, mocked and hissed at, the natural reaction when something goes your way is to cheer your side on.
Hence I hope Catholics may be forgiven a small hurrah at the news of Tony Blair's (apparent) conversion to Rome.
The famous converter, Fr Michael Seed, has been in and out of Number 10 for years and Fr Timothy Russ revealed in 2004 that Blair took communion in the Catholic church near Chequers.
Some of us have entertained high hopes of a conversion during his premiership. That would have been a real drama. There may be no constitutional bar to the Prime Minister of Britain being a Catholic, or becoming one while in office, but it's never happened.
Blair chose not to make history, though, perhaps because of Northern Ireland, where a Catholic convert PM would be seen as biased by participants at the peace talks, or perhaps because of the established Anglican church, which might deem it awkward for a Catholic PM to recommend its bishops to the Queen.
Blair's spiritual switch will send shockwaves through secular circles. Here's someone not content with mild Anglican mumbo jumbo - he wants to go the whole hog: no women priests, no married priests, devotion and fealty to the Pope, hellfire and transubstantiation to boot.
That liberal establishment which once supported him will be left open-mouthed. Isn't Catholicism just an antiquated religion that bans sex outside of marriage, homosexuality, birth control and abortions?
Er, no. Blair's jump will force the spin doctor, the telly producer, the Labour councillor to admit that there's more to Catholicism: charity, compassion, self-sacrifice and modesty for a start.
Examine the church's teachings and you'll find the emphasis is not on sex, but on truth, solidarity and justice.
Review Catholic doctrine and you'll see that the overwhelming preoccupation is not about condoms or chastity belts, but about helping others.
These are the values the liberal establishment pays lip service to. Now one of their own is prepared to embrace them as guiding principles. That is something to cheer about.
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