FSU- Former Soviet Union.  You need to get out more....

Originally posted by BorisG FSU- Former Soviet Union.  You need to get out more....

Sorry, not familiar with your shorthand. Judging by your name you have a strong connection with the FSU.


Seriously though, you took what I said and twisted it. I didn't say ban religion, I didn't say purge people, etc. I said: tear down publicly funded religious statues, or move them to private hands to be funded by private dollars.

Originally posted by expt2233 Seriously though, you took what I said and twisted it. I didn't say ban religion, I didn't say purge people, etc. I said: tear down publicly funded religious statues, or move them to private hands to be funded by private dollars.

Cristo was only definitively taken by the Brazilian government in 2009, after it was named one of the 7 Man Made Wonders of the world and the government realized how much money they were losing out on, and it is still "funded by private dollars"to this day (through private and corporate donations and ridiculous admissions prices).

All of the major reforms have been undertaken by the Catholic Archdiocese (who still holds masses there, owns all of the rights to its image and funds much of the upkeep) and private companies (namely Globo, Shell and Vale - who have plaques up around the statue saying as much). As part of "lending" the monument to the government, the archdiocese has also guaranteed that all Catholics can see the monument free of charge on various dates, especially when masses are held.

The government took over a religious monument so they could make a profit.  What they earn through the tram, ridiculously expensive parking lot and renting the concessions stands far exceeds the costs and undoubtedly is lining the pockets of several funcionarios publicos.

If you want to use Cristo to whine about corruption and abuse of an elite few robbing the rest of us, then by all means go ahead.  But to say that it is "publicly funded" is bending the truth a bit.



By the way, does anyone know if the Catholic Church ok'd this preliminary plan to put a replica in London?  How much would Embratur have to pay for the rights?  That would be interesting to see.

First, I did not know that the Cristo was administered that way. Thanks for the info.

Second, I really did not express myself clearly.

Keep the government and religion separate. It's a great principle, regardless of where it came from.

I believe in it. I know it's not Brazilian law. It's just my opinion.