The most awesome thing I have ever seen on the net. The Vatican virtual tours.

me

[Brugmansian]

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is not a church.

Oh no? Really? I could steal from Max Weber and make the case that that is exactly what art museums have become to many today. Lots of preachy do-gooders at the Met, at the Guggenheim. at the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers for the Performing Arts. How come you ain't asking them to put their heritage up on the auction block to feed the poor? How come you so focused on Catholics and their heritage being sold off? Don't be starting up on hypocrisy either. Yes Christianity teaches us to care for the needy. And we do. But nobody, nobody on earth is more sanctimonious than your run of the mill NYC or Hollywood art snob. No one on earth preaches more about helping the poor than they do. No one lives higher on the hog while doing it either.

[olezip]

I am warning you, if you go to this link you may be stuck on this website for hours, as I was yesterday:

Thank you for the link and the "warning." It is awesome!

[Fresh Wind]

Incredible!

[Mila]

"The question really wasn’t about feeding people if you know what I mean."

These kinds of attitudes and accusations against the Church show up on almost every thread that has anything to do with Catholics, no matter the original subject. So yes, probably every Catholic who has been on the board for a while knows exactly what you mean. It's sad really, but after a time you get to a point where you just expect to see them and after you do, you just shrug and move on. It's odd though, at least from my experience of reading some religious threads, that you seldom see similar postings from Catholics denigrating Protestant faiths. Why is that I wonder?

[Hiddigeigei]

I don’t worship art (or anything else, for that matter), but I enjoy beauty and admire beautiful creations of art and architecture. They make me feel enriched as a human being.

If you think your God wants all people to live in hovels and worship Him full-time in barns and clapboards shacks, that’s okay by me. Worship away. But I don’t think Michael Angelo should have spent his life hewing blocks to build cottages so poor folks would have “a roof over their heads.”

The American taxpayer spends billions “feeding the poor” at home and abroad, and look what it has gotten us. Over seas, it has enriched cannibal kings and tyrants. At home; well, take a look at the person in line in front of you at the market paying with food stamps.

As for the Quakers! I was raised by a family with Quaker roots. My mother was still wont to use the “thee and thou” on occasion. However, I came to the conclusion early that most “Friends” I knew and were related to were horses’ asses. Preserve us from fanatics!

[WVKayaker]

If you think your God wants all people to live in hovels and worship Him full-time in barns and clapboards shacks,

My God doesn't live in buildings. He lives in the hearts of those expressing it back through art. No church owns that. But, the art is a creation, and not worthy of worship, nor adoration. It is something to be admired, but in the end will perish with all we know. My Bible tells me the story, and I already know who wins.

This thread is typical, with Catholics screaming when accused of heresy and hoarding wealth. I am a Protestant (I protest against Rome's monolithism) who takes time each day to spend "in a closet".

[bronx2]

The Church doesn’t own this art and can’t sell it. In accordance with the Concordat signed with the Italian Government in 1929, the Church only has a Life Estate not a Fee Simple ownership. Thus any discussion of selling these works is pointless. The people of Italy are the owners of the residual interests.

[Hiddigeigei]

Alright. I won’t pursue this exchange of opinions further.

I’m grateful for this post and have bookmarked the site for future enjoyment.

[Petronski]

I’ve already explained that to him.

It didn’t help.

[FoxPro]

It is!

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Definitely do the Palatine hill, above the Forum. It's beautiful for one thing, and for another it's the same ticket that gets you in the Colosseum, but with a much shorter line. (The line at the Colosseum is just to buy the ticket). Then, around on the other side of the Colosseum and a couple of blocks up, check out Basilica of San Clemente. It's a 15th Century church but, when you take the stairs down a flight, you're in a 4th Century church, complete with frescoes. Go down another flight and you're at 1st Century Roman street level. One of the coolest things I saw in a city full of cool things.

At the Vatican, be sure to take the little side jaunt to see the tombs of the popes.

I assume you've been warned about the gypsies. They look exactly like what you'd think gypsies look like. Do not engage them (or more correctly, let don't let them engage you) and keep track of your valuables when they're around. If you're waiting in the line for the Vatican Museum, you'll definitely see them. On the streets around the Colosseum, too. Once you're aware of them, though, they're kind of interesting to observe in an anthropological way. Watch for the fake baby under the blanket hiding the pickpocketing arm thing.

What else? The Spanish Steps I thought were kinda disappointing. If you happen by them, enjoy them, but don't make a special effort to get there. My opinion, anyway.

On the other hand, don't hesitate to walk into any church if the doors are unlocked. They're all filled with treasures. We wandered into one, off the Piazza del Popolo, and saw two spectacular Caravaggio paintings, including this one, The Crucifixion of St. Peter

Are you going anywhere else in Italy?

[El Sordo]

Wow.