However, if the Vatican is going to forbid putting up ugly churches, it’s also going to have to tell parishes where to find money for the staggering cost of glorious artwork, splendid materials, and a much taller and more elaborate structure. Marble and gold don’t come cheap.
Marble and gold are great, but hardly necessary. I have been to many very simple and yet very beautiful and reverent churches. They have statues that are not gaudy or oversized, but are classic and attractive. And they actually have them. They have a crucifix rather than some modern art fiasco. They have aisles that point in one direction so people know when and where to genuflect. This round, auditorium style churches are not cheaper to build. They are just ugly. They are uninspiring and not oriented to proper Catholic liturgical practices. A church doesn't have to be a Gothic basilica in order to be beautiful. It just needs to be oriented to true worship.
If you go upthread a little, you’ll see that I posted the website of just such a church, simple and elegant.