My ain’t right meter is pegging on this one, especially after all of the money poured in to help restore it. It appears to me that the salvation of so many “artifacts”, a “hero” priest saving the fake crown of thorns and all - it was planned. We will never know the truth on this one. But, the money that the catholic church has in the Vatican to rebuild this building which will never be used, nor the funds from visitation by tourists (where did ALL of those funds go?) just makes this all smell to high Heaven.
I agree, but I still do not think an arson conclusion will be reached, and I don’t think the calculus is even that hard. An arson conclusion possibly brings down the Macron gov’t. French billionaires have already pledged perhaps $1/2 bn in rebuild funds, the Vatican will not be spending a penny not made up in zillions of small collection plate donations around the world. An arson conclusion probably sets off several hundred million in Muslim street riots. The rebuild process and publicity surrounding same will probably generate increased tourism (whereas an arson finding might well discourage same) There’s no upside whatsoever in an arson finding. Absolutely none, zero. Like it or not. Indeed, there’s considerable downside, with possible vigilante activity in France and whatever Muslim riots THAT would set off. The truth could not be more irrelevant; and it IS possible it was an accident. I don’t see any way in the entire universe the French gov’t arrives at an arson finding.