Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Latest Excuse - International Law
Usually when the subject of why there is a palace full of priceless art while there are people starving is broached, the excuse is usually a comparison to the alabaster box that was broken open to annoint Christ. Now there is a new excuse, international law! (No, seriously.)
2 comments:
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Hypocrisy? I'm not sure this is fair.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't the RCC provide the most charity in the world? And would you want the Vatican art collection to be scattered to hundreds of private collectors? Don't you think it is appropriate that these collections remain public, accessible to visitors, etc.? If you were the European Union (or whoever), wouldn't you make such a law?
a) "Hypocrisy? I'm not sure this is fair."
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is overly harsh. That's not really part of the article, just a tag to category the post. In this case "obvious pretext" might be a better tag.
b) "And would you want the Vatican art collection to be scattered to hundreds of private collectors?"
I don't think collecting art is a church function. I realize that there are probably other churches besides the RCC to whom such a criticism would apply (not mine, of course, but mine is Reformed).
Whether all the art was bought by a single large institution, or a thousand private collectors, wouldn't really make much of a difference to me. This world, and its artifacts, are not really my highest priority. I seek the unseen kingdom to come.
c) "Doesn't the RCC provide the most charity in the world?"
I haven't seen any stats. On the other hand, recall that the widow's mites were praised more than the much larger sums provided by the Pharisees.
d) "Don't you think it is appropriate that these collections remain public, accessible to visitors, etc.? If you were the European Union (or whoever), wouldn't you make such a law?"
See (b) above. I'm happy to enjoy the good things God has given, but I leave collecting rare art for princes and those who, like princes, live in palaces.
-TurretinFan