To think there are better things to donate €100m to than rebuilding Notre Dame?

[Bearbehind]

I know no one has to donate anything but 2 French billionaires have reportedly donated €100m and €200m respectively towards rebuilding Notre Dame.

The Catholic Church is not exactly short of money.

It just doesn’t really sit right with me spending all that money on a building when it could be used for so many other things

School holidays are a nightmare time on here

It's such another sign that we live in a world where 'things' are valued more than human life.

I'll wager you have spent money on many "things" you didn't have an absolute need for. Why didn't you give that money to save human lives instead?

Firstly, I would be interested to know what should then be done with the Notre Dame? Let it fall into disrepair? Allow vandels to descrete it (as security costs could obviously be put to good use elsewhere)? Board it up or demolish it so no future generations can benefit from its beauty? If Tower Bridge needs repairs, shall we let it drop into the river and just build a concrete monstrosity as its cheaper?

Ultimately, as previously mentioned, if no one throughout history had thought to spend money on art rather than direct charitable causes, the world would be a sorry place. To me, it seems small-minded to not think of future generations to come.

And as I mentioned in an earlier post, agreeing with the rebuilding of Notre Dame doesn't mean you don't agree that charities for people should not be supported. It's not exclusive.

Really, does it not bother people that two single private individuals are able to conjure up three hundred million euros overnight?

Nope, doesn't bother me at all. Or how they choose to spend it as long as it's within legal means.

I had to laugh at a comment on Facebook last night.

One old guy said “it’s just an old building, what’s all the fuss?”

Someone replied underneath, “well your just an old bag of meat!”

Oh, I posted a link on my wall about Francois Pinault's contribution and a few of those dull, tedious virtue signalling whack jobs I thought I had deleted wrote comments along the lines of 'what about whirled peas, etc!' They and their earnest comments soon went poof!

Do RTFT, @Bentneck, it doesn’t belong to the Catholic Church.

Most of the money will be spent on the wages of all the different trades involved, so could be viewed as job creation. There will also be a lot of workers gaining specialist experience whilst working on the renovation which also has to be a good thing.

I need to have a cull, still have some of those sanctimonious vegans and recently had to drop a relatively good friend over her going all 'Meat is murder!' and those extinction rebellion screwballs every time I spoke to her. I asked her to stop but she kept on.

I think it's up to them what they spend their money on. I'm pleased that they are helping with what is a national treasure. There are many causes in the world and this happens to be the one in the news today.

What you may consider worthy they may not, it’s their money to spend how they wish, and Notre Dame is more than just a church as others have pointed out. And yes the Catholic Church May be rich, as is the Church of England, but with our churches it’s the parishes responsibility for maintenance and repairs, hence all the requests for funds to repairs rowers and bells etc, they get nothing from the Church of England themselves. Bet it’s the same with the Catholic Church

Chloe whilst I agree peoples' private money is theirs to do as they please with, it's been pointed out that the building does not belong to the Catholic Church, has not done so since 1905, so all of its costs are borne by the state.

"You can probably guess which one they are on about the most"

Wellllllllllllll people have a right to spend their money as they wish What i saw on Twitter was a concern that.
a. the British Gov may donate which would be a bit galling as 67 Grenfell families are still waiting for permanent homes.
b. the collective amnesia that is occuring........

Barry
‏ @bazhsw8183
1h1 hour ago

I saw a few well meaning tweets about the terrible fire at Notre Dame and things like 'imagine if this was London'.

All I can think of since is the victims of #Grenfell and how those poor families still do not have justice or been rehomed #justiceforgrenfell

Jason O'Rourke
‏ @jasonoruairc

I was watching #Skypapers last night. The anchor said: 'imagine if this had happened in London'.

Nobody mentioned #grenfell. Two years on and the survivors still haven't all been rehoused, in the richest borough in the UK. Poor people's lives don't matter.

For me personally its not the millionaires donations. Its totally up to them what they spend their money on.

Its the tactlessness of some of the reporting on this and the tactlessness coming from some members of the public that im appalled at NOT the donations.

So you see its a bit more nuanced than you think @damnthatoneistakenagain.

Also saw a tweet from the Theresa May account saying the bells of Westminster would be ringing today at 5.43pm.

Just re who it belongs to, Wiki:

Under a 1905 law, Notre-Dame de Paris is one of 70 churches in Paris built before that year which are owned by the French state. While the building itself is owned by the state, the Catholic Church is the designated beneficiary, having the exclusive right to use it for religious purposes in perpetuity. The archdiocese is responsible for paying the employees, for security, heating and cleaning, and for ensuring that the cathedral is open free to visitors. The archdiocese does not receive subsidies from the French state.

So as I understand it, while the state technically owns it, the Church is actually responsible for its upkeep. Also confirmed here.

The philistines are upon us!

What?! OP - do you even know how significant the Notre Dame is? Good thing it’s not you deciding on restoration of it. And please go and read up on what the Notre Dame is. Good grief.

I haven't read through this thread but you can be sure the two French donors that the press have mentioned, give a massive amount to charity.

What?! OP - do you even know how significant the Notre Dame is? Good thing it’s not you deciding on restoration of it. And please go and read up on what the Notre Dame is. Good grief.

Yes - it’s a building.

It’s not going to help find a cure for cancer or house those families from Grenfell.

I appreciate most people disagree with me so IABU but I still can’t prioritise buildings over people.

And yes, I do donate to charity and it’s always to causes that help living things, not bricks and mortar.

Clearly that makes me a philstine but so be it.

I liked the idea of restoring it only enough to make it safe - the fire is part of its history now.

@NCforthis2019
RTFT - OP said several hours ago that she was BU

Agree OP. The Catholic Church is stinking rich. They could sort out a lot of poverty if they wanted to. Disgusting in my view

Oops - unfortunate xpost with OP. Glad to see you're fighting your corner again, Bearbehind

😆 lucy

Looks like it’s me and Janet Street Porter

That gobshite JSP is a piece of work. Bear that building has a large number of functions and serves a number of purposes. As an attraction to many, it is also a huge earner for the city. It is in the middle of town, 'just making it safe' and leaving it would be akin to allowing Westminster, Tower of London or Buckingham Palace fall into ruin, because 'well, just buildings' and leaving them open to vandalism. And that's pretty stupid. That there is poverty and disease in the world is a total non sequitur.

It could still be an attraction without a full restoration.