Wealth makes things difficult when it comes to entering the kingdom, Jesus warns in this Sunday's gospel. It can also make things difficult for entering the Louvre if you happen to be the McDonald's Corporation looking to open a McCafé.

Lovers of France's two great symbols of culture--its haute cuisine and fine art--are aghast at the plans, and the chain faces a groundswell of discontent among museum staff. "This is the last straw," said one art historian working at the Louvre, who declined to be named. "This is the pinnacle of exhausting consumerism, deficient gastronomy, and very unpleasant odors in the context of a museum."

McDonald's confirmed that a restaurant will open next month. The Louvre said it will be located in the underground approach to the museum, known as the Carrousel du Louvre. According to the Louvre, the McDonald's would represent the "American" segment of a new food court and would be situated among world cuisines and coffee shops.

Said Louvre Pour Tous, a website whose aim is to "inform and defend" museum visitors: "Henri Loyrette, president of the Louvre museum, just had to say one word to stop the whiff of French fries from wafting past the Mona Lisa's nose. He chose otherwise." Many in France view "McDo" as the Trojan horse of globalization and the scourge of local produce and long lunches.

Even if there is a last-minute U-turn at the Louvre, however, statistics suggest the battle of Le Big Macs has already been lost. France has become McDonald's biggest market in the world outside of the U.S., according to the chain. The fast food group opened 30 new outlets last year in France and welcomed 450 million customers, up 11 percent from the previous year.

Source: An article by Henry Samuel for Telegraph.com.uk