kerouac

Actually, in Paris part of the municipal budget is "participative." We get to propose and then vote for 10 projects for which we want to use our taxes -- 5 of them in our own arrondissement and 5 which are citywide. I voted online just the other day, and one of the projects for which I voted was to illuminate St. Bernard-de-la-Chapelle. Other projects include fixing certain intersections, providing more organic meals in schools or planting gardens of the roofs of various buildings.

Perhaps in the future, tourists should be allowed to vote on how they want their tourist tax to be used.

PalenQ

Perhaps in the future, tourists should be allowed to vote on how they want their tourist tax to be used.>

Taxation without representation!

Envierges

A Rich American also did the Carnegie Library in Reims after WWI . . .and in today's papers a rich American has bought our adored Pagode cinema that closed a couple of years ago. Wasn't Jeff Bezos looking for ideas for spending his bundle?

cheska15

Well since religious organisations are exempt from paying tax because they are charities perhaps they could contribute. I would happily pay if I knew that the money was going to the cause. But like every fundraising project introduced for a specific purpose the money sometimes goes elsewhere. Tourists are having an impact in a lot of ways, not all of them good, and if the locals are not going to the churches and tourists are, then perhaps we should pay.

kerouac Thanks for that explanation on how locals can vote for a local project.

PalenQ

Nevertheless, France remains the 2nd most atheistic country in the world after Czechia.>

ah yeh all my French in-laws (ex) and French son and all his friends are mainly atheists though a few of them have a 'spiritual' side - only the old "mi-mere" (spelling?- not sure what it means but my wife's mother was always known to me as "mi-mere" and her sister went faithfully to Mass every Sunday - only old women they said went to Mass and they're dying off so yes for the relative handful that go to Notre-Dame for Mass - locals that is - must be miniscule - sure lots of tourists go including me just to see the IMO ludicrous event.

But Notre-Dame as a place of worship could be terminated with affecting few locals and turned into a museum in day and wonderful concert hall at night.

France being the 2nd most atheist country (after Czech Republic where my mother came from!) says IMO a lot for the country and its rational peoples.

marvelousmouse

"Ludicrous event?" Mass at Notre Dame or a religious service anywhere? Just wondering where you're coming from, and why you'd attend something you consider ludicrous.

I'll admit I don't really get the whole religious tourism thing. RC or not. If you're going to attend an event, or tour a holy place, out of curiousity or appreciation for the music, and be respectful, that's one thing. toting giant cameras around a papal audience, photography during the service, tramping past do not enter signs, arguing about covering your shoulders or removing your hat, letting your kids swing on bell ropes at shrines or play Pokémon go in cemeteries....just leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I guess. I'm not devout, and most of my family members who are, are old ladies, but I respect the passion that goes into it. Religious art is a form of worship, not just a pretty thing to look at.

I will say that I do understand wanting to charge tourists money. I also understand barring tourists from areas or churches, either for religious or preservation reasons. I've seen some behavior that made me incredibly uncomfortable and the members of that church, no matter how few, should not have to put up with it.

fuzzbucket

Le College des Bernadins was re-purposed into an art gallery.
There are others, too.

Most tourists will spend 2 EU for a coin from a machine marked with the "Jubilee of Notre Dame" or some such nonsense. But they wouldn't put money in the collection box, or for the poor.

KTtravel

Some churches I have visited are closed during religious services and only opened afterwards for tourists who then pay to enter. Perhaps this would be a good compromise?

PalenQ

Just wondering where you're coming from, and why you'd attend something you consider ludicrous.>

Poor choice of word - meant something like lavish - supercilious - the priests in those yes ludicrous outfits - Jesus of the myths would be wearing plain clothes like everyone else not lording over them. The pageantry which yes could be a nice show with music, etc but whole thing overdone as are the cathedrals they worship the lord in - again very much the opposite of what Jesus would have - guessing i'm talking about high mass.

Yes St Paul's has free entry to services and charges a pretty pence to get in otherwise.