On April 15th, Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, France went up in flames. The wooden roof burned easily and the distinctive spire toppled as the fire devoured it.
Christians around the world mourned, and less than 24 hours later, many people and corporations had donated for future rebuilding efforts. CEOs, the government of France, and private citizens all donated as much money as they could.
Crowdfunding (asking for money from friends, family, and strangers on the internet) has gained popularity along with the internet. Many Gofundme fundraisers are for medical reasons or other personal tragedies. Sometimes they stay up for months without enough contributions. Notre Dame, on the other hand, met its fundraising goals quickly. But why does this specific building get so much money when other causes receive so little?
Notre Dame does have massive historical and religious significance: it was built in the 13th century and represents the power of Catholics, a powerful and established wing of Christianity. Its architecture and art are famed around the world. It draws millions of tourists and worshippers every year.
In the end though, it is only a building. In a world with so much suffering, is it right to spend so much money on a building? Notre Dame was built not just as a place of worship, but as an expression of the power and wealth of the Catholic church. This sudden effort to donate millions to rebuild the cathedral should face scrutiny. Amidst all the poverty and disaster in the world, should we be more focused on rebuilding famous cathedrals than helping those in need?