Chillul Hashem Vs. Pikuach Nefesh

Rabbi Moshe Sherer once contemplated requesting of a powerful former government official to help save the life of a Jew behind the Iron Curtain. It was assumed that the person would then seek in return a public show of support, which could have been perceived as condoning behavior totally unacceptable for a few. (The details are still too sensitive to be made public.) Rabbi Sherer called Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetzky who asked for time to think it over. The next day he called Rabbi Sherer back and told him that to save a life, one can transgress almost any commandment, but not create Chillul Hashem.