There is considerable sentiment that Notre-Dame de Paris, which suffered a serious fire on 15 April 2019, should be rebuilt. French President Emmanuel Macron has already pledged that it will be rebuilt, and several deep-pocketed French captains of industry have pledged over €600 million for that purpose.
There are two questions still unanswered: "Who will be in charge of the rebuilding?" and "In what form shall it be rebuilt?" I have an answer for both.
The cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris once belonged to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paris, but in 1789, the revolutionary government of France seized it along with several hundred other churches. One of them is still to this day the Musée des arts et métiers. Many of the churches are leased back to the Diocese of Paris for a fee. That is: France took that property from its putative owner and now rents it back to them. France owns Notre-Dame and is responsible for its maintenance.
It is a matter of settled law that good title can never vest in stolen property.
Taking it was a political crime. Allowing it to burn as it did demonstrates that the French government is incapable of caring for such a valuable asset. It is time to correct the criminal act of the revolutionary government of France in 1789. Give Notre-Dame de Paris back to the Diocese of Paris to be rebuilt as its real owners wish.
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And the Diocese would be responsible for all upkeep and repairs? Do they have the resources?
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