THE Chapter of Notre-Dame de Paris has rejected the government’s plan to introduce an entrance fee when the restored cathedral officially reopens on December 7 (News, February 9).

The Chapter issued a statement in response to an announcement last week by French Culture Minister Rachida Dati that a €5 entrance fee would be levied to help fund the maintenance of other historic religious buildings .

“We wish to recall the unchanged position of the Catholic Church of France concerning free entry into churches and cathedrals,” indicates the press release from the Notre-Dame Chapter.

“Establishing access conditions would deprive, as elsewhere in Europe, pilgrims and visitors of the feeling of communion which constitutes the very essence of this place, and would prevent them from discovering the monument and all its infinite beauty.”

Free access was guaranteed by the French law of separation of Church and State of 1905, the statement continued, and was essential to the Church’s “fundamental mission” of offering an “unconditional welcome” to everyone. , without distinction of religion or belief, opinions or financial means.

Ms Dati defended the proposal. She told the newspaper Le Figaro that she had suggested “the very simple idea” to the Archbishop of Paris, Mgr Laurent Ulrich, and that she had hoped that all the “political forces” would support it. “Religious services must remain free, but every cultural visitor must contribute to preserving our heritage,” she said.

“Across Europe, visitors pay to access the most remarkable religious sites. With this charge at Notre-Dame, we could save churches all over France, it would be a beautiful symbol.

Hundreds of firefighters fought to save Notre Dame on April 15, 2019, when a fire caused by an electrical outage destroyed the 300-foot spire and 13th-century oak roof. Much of the wooden interior and masonry was destroyed (News, April 18, 2019).

The Gothic cathedral, which previously attracted up to 14 million visitors each year, is one of France’s 42,000 historic Catholic churches, many of which must be maintained using government funds under the 1905 law.

Other government officials have supported the entry fee plan, including Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who told Inter-Radio that it should be considered “as a good thing, whether we believe it or not.” in paradise or not.

The Chapter specifies, however, that many visitors have already contributed to financing the restoration of the cathedral and that the “not insignificant” price “would lead people to give up visiting a cathedral by nature open to all”.

The national Roman Catholic daily newspaper The Cross said she doubted the proposal “goes beyond a statement of intent.” Successive governments have attempted to extend their management of public affairs to the organization of religions, showing contempt for the separation between Church and State.