It’s nothing short of a miracle that the edifice of Notre Dame largely survived Monday’s catastrophic fire. Not everything could be saved, but much of the cathedral’s historic artwork and its most precious relics were evacuated. Predictably, ISIS is celebrating the disaster.

Yet, as I watched the news of the fire, heartbroken at what was happening to this iconic cathedral, and hearing from devastated Catholic friends, I couldn’t help but think about this fact: Secular elites across Europe and here in the United States have been torching the fundamental values of Western Civilization, of Judeo-Christian Civilization, for decades.

Thankfully, a number of wealthy individuals are offering extremely generous donations to restore the cathedral. Rebuilding Notre Dame will be a massive undertaking. But that will be easy compared to what it will take to rebuild and restore the West. 

How do we restore the fundamental belief of Western Civilization — that all human beings are made in the image of God, and that each one, from the moment of conception until their final breath, has dignity and worth?

Our country was founded on the belief that our liberty comes from the God of Abraham, not any government.

This civilization has brought more opportunity and freedom for women and minorities than any civilization in the history of the world.

We are not only abandoning our history, we are destroying our future by failing to instill these building blocks of civilization in the hearts and minds of our children.

As the West declines, a decline due in part to the fact that we have barbarians inside the gates, what is the great civilization that will replace it and do a better job? Does anyone really believe that a future run by the Chinese communists will give us a better, freer world?

As European women stop giving birth, and the nurseries are filled with babies named Mohammad, does anyone believe that Muslim Europe will be a freer, more tolerant place for women and children than the Europe Christendom created?

The burning of Notre Dame, with all the culture and history that it represents, was a warning to the West. We must preserve and defend what we cherish. 

Not Just Notre Dame

French authorities say they are preparing for a “long and complicated” investigation regarding the cause of the inferno. For now, they insist there is no sign of arson. 

While it is certainly true that accidents do happen during construction and renovation projects, Notre Dame is not the only French church to suffer extensive damage lately. Here’s a sample of recent headlines:

“800-Year-Old Church Heavily Vandalized In French No-Go Suburb”

“Eucharist Desecrated, Statues Smashed In Series Of French Church Attacks”

“Vandals Cause Serious Damage In Attack On A French Church”

“Twelve French Churches Attacked, Vandalized In One Week”

“Macron’s France: Average Of Three Church Attacks Per Day”

The media in Europe and America are uncomfortable discussing this reality. Monday, Fox News twice hung up on guests who attempted to expose it.

Regardless of what caused the fire at Notre Dame, French authorities and the French people should be asking serious questions about why so many churches are being attacked day after day. 

2020 Update

We’re still more than 560 days away from the 2020 elections, but the campaign is already in high gear. First quarter fundraising reports are in and there are new polls too. Here are the top five leaders in the Democrat money chase:

• Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) $21 million.

• Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) $16.5 million.

• Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) $13.2 million.

• Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) $12.6 million.

• Former Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) $12.1 million.

President Trump raised $30.3 million in the first quarter.

While money is important, it’s votes that win the race, and two new polls suggest the Democrat primary is a two-man contest. 

An Emerson College poll found Bernie Sanders leading former Vice President Joe Biden 29% to 24%. No other candidate received double-digit support.

A Morning Consult poll found Biden at 31% and Sanders at 23%. No other candidate received double-digit support.

Sanders’s early success has Democrat insiders panicking. Worried that the aging socialist would spell certain defeat in the general election, the New York Times reports that the party establishment is desperately trying to figure out how they can stop him while avoiding a civil war at the same time. They couldn’t figure it out in 2016.

Pelosi’s Problems

Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is having her own problems containing her party’s left flank. 

Clearly worried that radicals like Ilhan Omar and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are defining her brand, Pelosi made several statements recently that are not going over well with the progressive movement. More importantly, they are outright lies meant to confuse voters.

For example, during Sunday’s 60 Minutes interview, Pelosi dismissed Ocasio-Cortez and other progressives, saying, “That’s like five people.” No, it’s not. 

The House Progressive Caucus has more than 90 members who represent 41% of the entire House Democrat membership.

Pelosi also said that she rejects socialism, adding, “That is not the view of the Democrat Party." Really? 

Well, 124 House Democrats, 53% of her caucus, are co-sponsoring the "Medicare for All” socialized healthcare bill. If you enjoyed paying your taxes Monday, then you’ll love “Medicare for All” because doubling income taxes still wouldn’t pay for it.

Recent polling finds that Democrats are increasingly embracing socialism. A Gallup poll last August found that 57% of Democrats have a positive view of socialism, while a February Harvard poll found Democrats evenly split — 51% to 49% — in their preference for a capitalist economic system over a socialist system.

My friends, Nancy Pelosi does not get elected in San Francisco by singing the praises of free markets. She did not become the leader of her party by being so out-of-touch with her base. 

She knows the left-wing fringe has taken over the Democrat Party. She’s just hoping most Americans won’t notice until after the 2020 elections.