Fear rather than principle?

A letter to today's Irish Times makes an interesting argument relating to that newspaper's (and others') refusal to publish the cartoons purporting to depict Muhammad:

Madam, - You did not publish the contentious cartoons that offend Muslims. However, you regularly publish pictures of a female pop singer who has adopted the title of the most revered saint in the Catholic Church, Madonna. She performs sexual gyrations in front of audiences under the name of someone who to Catholics is the very epitome of sexual purity and innocence. I suggest the difference is that you are confident Catholics will not react violently. I don't think that respect is the guiding principle in not publishing the cartoons. I think it is fear.

- Yours, etc, KEVIN COOPER