Money pledged for Notre Dame

[bevelino]

I was saddened by the fire of such an historic building, but am unable to get over the multi millions pledged to rebuild the cathedral. The billionaires donating tens of millions for the rebuild and more than any of them or their families could spend in a lifetime makes me feel sad that they will donate money for a church but not for people including starving children.

The amount of money they have to fling around is truly surprising.

I hope the money is managed by someone independent of the wealthy Catholic Church.

Since 1905 France’s cathedrals (including Notre-Dame de Paris) have been owned by the state. According to representative of the Aon’s French business the assets owned by the state are self-insured by the state.

How do you know they don't donate money for starving children? Genuine question.

How do you know they don't donate money for starving children? Genuine question.

This.

Why not ask why Queen Elizabeth does not sell a castle or some jewellery and donate the money to starving children?

Why don’t you take your ‘sadness’ to one of the other threads already started by others with the same startlingly original insight?

Will nobody think of the children?

I think the fact that they are billionaires means that they do have a lot of cash to fling around.
I am as poor as a church mouse, and I'd quite happily donate to see Notre Dame restored to it's former glory.

People are moved by different things. If some wish to donate towards the restoration of Notre Dame, then that's their call. You have no means of knowing whether or not they give to other good causes as well. Their money, their choice.

Personally, I do not give to animal charities or those which conserve historical buildings, because I prefer to give to those which help people. That isn't to say that the other causes aren't worthy. It's a personal choice because I cannot afford to give to all. I certainly wouldn't judge others for choosing differently.

If the billionaires do give to other charities that is good, but they seem happier publicising their massive donations to Notre Dame. I am not trying to pick a fight with anyone by the way.

I agree with you OP. They value things over people. This is how society got so unequal.

Prepare to have someone come on here and ask exactly how much you give to charity though...

There are a few billion people worldwide living on tiny incomes and in dire poverty. So even if these "rich" donated a few billion between them, it would be about a single pound for each impoverished person, and that's ignoring the costs of managing/distributing the cash. It wouldn't make one iota of a difference, even to those who receive it. It's not enough to change their lives.

if society weren't so unequal we'd have no Notre Dame in the first place, and all live in rabbit hutches

Were you bothered by the costs to repair Windsor castle or York Minster?

not at all - because these things are timeless treasures of the nation

but 'helping the poor' is a bottomless pit of finances and of course, highly vague in definition