It Doesn’t Have to be a Choice: Protecting the Environment and Helping the Poor vs Rebuilding Notre Dame
When millionaires came forward to donate money to help rebuild Notre Dame, a storm of angry emotions flashed across the screen like lightning, thunder, and rain. How dare money is wasted on a Cathedral, particularly when the Catholic Church is so rich! Jesus didn’t want riches. He wanted people to help the poor! Or what about the environment! These were just some of the indignant emotions that were flaring.
I can’t blame people for feeling this way. It sometimes feels like the rich don’t give enough of their money to the poor, or in the protection of the environment. On the other hand, I feel like anger towards money going towards the rebuilding of a cathedral is misplaced.
Trying to put it all in perspective.
I understand that environmental protection and funds to help the sick and needy are essential. People are right to ask why aren’t the millionaires and billionaires using their funds to protect the Amazon Rainforest, to make sure Flint gets clean water, or why they can’t use those riches to clean up the garbage in the ocean (something I deem the utmost importance), and for many other similar purposes. As a man who is a strong environmentalist and who cares about the wellbeing of minorities and others who are…
