(A too-easy parody of this news item. All I can figure is they must read the Bible in Latin at this guy's parish, assuming he actually goes to church.)
Billionaire Home Depot founder Ken Langone has a warning for Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Christian Trinity.
A major Republican donor, Langone told CNBC in a story published online Monday that wealthy people such as himself might stop giving to charity if Jesus continues to make statements criticizing rich people and income inequality.
Langone described the Lord's comments about rich people being unlikely to enter the Kingdom of God as "exclusionary" statements that may make some of the rich "incapable of feeling compassion for the poor."
Langone, who is leading an effort to raise money for the restoration of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan said he relayed these concerns to Cardinal Timothy Dolan in New York. Specifically, Langone said he told the church leader he spoke to a donor who could give millions of dollars to the cathedral project but was worried about Jesus' "exclusionary" remarks.
"I've told the cardinal, 'Your Eminence, this is one more hurdle I hope we don't have to deal with. Jesus needs to be careful about generalities. Rich people in one country don't act the same as rich people in another country,'" said Langone. "Maybe over in Palestine, the rich people there would have a harder time entering the kingdom of God than a camel would have to try to get through the eye of a needle. But applying that to rich people everywhere...Jesus needs to watch what he says."
CNBC also spoke to Dolan, who said he told Langone the unnamed donor's concerns seemed based on "a misunderstanding of the Lord's message."
"Jesus loves poor people. He also loves rich people.' ... So I said, 'Ken, thanks for bringing it to my attention. We've gotta correct to make sure this gentleman understands the Gospel message properly.' And then I think he's gonna say, 'Oh, OK. If that's the case, count me in for St. Patrick's Cathedral,'" Dolan said.
