Even as prayers, hymns for the cathedral continue to ring out across Paris, an unease is building over the future of the church and the role wealthy families and big corporations are playing in its destiny
People like Manuel Domergue find it hard to swallow. He works for a charity called the Abbé-Pierre Foundation, which helps thousands of homeless people across the country and struggles every year to raise the €40-million it needs to survive.
For President Emmanuel Macron the controversy over the restoration has marred what he’d hoped would be a rare moment of national unity. On the night of the fire he called on France to pull together and “transform this catastrophe into a moment to become … better than we are.” And in a fit of exuberance he added that the cathedral would be restored “more beautiful than before” in five years, just in time for France to host the 2024 Olympic Games.
There are other pitfalls looming for Mr. Macron. He’s struggled for months to address criticism that he’s out of touch and catering to the powerful. His moves to cut the wealth tax, slash public services and introduce changes that make it easier for companies to fire workers have sparked cries of class warfare and prompted four months of sometimes violent street protests.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Globe editorial: Notre-Dame Cathedral, and caring for the things that matterThere was a terrible moment on Monday when it seemed likely Notre-Dame Cathedral, – that muscular yet graceful icon of European civilization, – would burn to the ground
Read more »
France mourns after Notre-Dame blaze but over $1-billion in donations raise hopeFrench President Emmanuel Macron promised to restore the fire-damaged cathedral to its glory within five years, although most experts expect it will take twice as long
Read more »
Before And After Photos of Notre Dame Show Fire's DevastationThese before-and-after sliding images highlight the damage from the Notre Dame Cathedral fire.
Read more »
Morning Update: UCP wins majority in Alberta; barrier to abortion pill removed; fundraising for Notre-DameAlso: Children’s television in Canada is very white and very male, a new study has found
Read more »
$1 billion raised to rebuild Paris' Notre Dame after fireNearly $1 billion has already poured in from ordinary worshippers and high-powered magnates around the world to restore the fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, after the French president set a controversial five-year deadline to get the work done.
Read more »
Opinion: The reconstruction of Notre-Dame is not the only answerThe cathedral should be rebuilt, but does it need to be rebuilt exactly as it was before?
Read more »
Ubisoft historian says company's 3D Notre Dame a reminder of beauty during rebuildArtists and historians working to create the 2014 game 'Assassin's Creed Unity' spent 14 months combing through photos, videos, and architectural plans to create a digital model so realistic that some have speculated it could help to guide the reconstruction of the 12th century cathedral.
Read more »