Pope Francis's skull cap attracts €105,000 bid on eBay

[LiberalAndProud]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/18/pope-francis-skull-cap-ebay

Italian TV show that got pontiff to part with skull cap says money raised will be given to charity fighting child mortality in DRC

As later shown on Vatican TV, the host managed to accost the pope as he boarded his jeep and offered him a new white skull cap.

The pope is seen stopping the jeep and examining the cap, before swapping it for his own.

Fair trade, do you think? I'll withhold further comment for now because while this brief blurb unsettles me, I'm not sure I can say why that is so.

[cbayer]

1. This would disturb me if the money weren't going to be used for a good cause.

The DRC looks to be a good organization.

[okasha]

2. Money well spent for a good cause.

[rug]

3. They can use every euro they get.

The money raised is to be given to an Italian charity fighting child mortality in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the programme makers said.

[LiberalAndProud]

4. I think that's why I find this unsettling.

Not a criticism of the pope or the program, but that people with this amount of money don't feel compelled to give sans papal cap. Whether they bid for religious or secular reasons, I find the relatively extravagant wealth on display here, juxtaposed against such desperate need, revolting.

[rug]

5. I don't know why people dump buckets of ice over themselves instead of just donating.

[LiberalAndProud]

6. I'm thinking the ice bucket challenge is more of an awareness campaign

tag - you're it! kind of thing.

Don't get me wrong, bizarres and jumble sales are okay. If the cap crowbarred a few dollars for those in need, that's a good thing. It just jars me to contemplate the enormous disparity.

[AtheistCrusader]

8. Some of us did both.

The ice bucket provides levity, and a viral backbone for the movement.

How many people will one beanie reach out to, if the buyer then turned around to use it to attempt to raise yet more money?

[okasha]

7. We have no idea

how much these bidders give or to what causes. Chances sre they donate to other charities, too.