Home Depot Founder: Pope’s Rhetoric on Economy Worrying Rich Donors

According to Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Home Depot founder Ken Langone has voiced concerns that Pope Francis recent rhetoric about income inequality was causing at least one high-level donor hesitation.

Langone is involved with Dolan in a $180 million restoration project of St. Patricks Cathedral in New York City, but informed the cardinal that one potential seven-figure donor was unhappy with the pontiffs criticism of free marketscomments which have already angered conservative pundits and been called Marxist by Rush Limbaugh.

Ive told the cardinal, Your Eminence, this is one more hurdle I hope we dont have to deal with, Langone said to CNBC. You want to be careful about generalities. Rich people in one country dont act the same as rich people in another country.

Dolan said Langone approached him recently about the remarks, saying, You come to us who have been blessed, who are wealthy, and yet we sense that perhaps the Pope is less enthusiastic about us. We need to correct that.

Dolan said he responded, Well, Ken, that would be a misunderstanding of the Holy Fathers message. The pope loves poor people. He also loves rich peopleWeve gotta make sure this gentleman understands the Holy Fathers message properly. And then I think hes gonna say, Oh, OK. If thats the case, count me in for St. Patricks Cathedral.

In a separate interview with George Stephanopoulos, Dolan praised Pope Francis for shattering the caricature of the Catholic Church.

Watch the full clip below, via CNBC:

[h/t Raw Story]

[Image via screengrab]

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Home Depot Founder: Pope’s Rhetoric on Economy Worrying Rich Donors