Ken Langone, known for founding Home Depot, told CNBC that one potential seven-figure donor is concerned about statements from the pope criticizing market economies as "exclusionary", as well as urging the rich to give more to the poor and criticizing a "culture of prosperity" that leads some to become "incapable of feeling compassion for the poor". (This all stems from the effort to raise money for restoration of St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York)
I'm not sure why he's concerned. Let's look at some Bible passages on the subject.
Proverbs 29:7
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
Psalm 82:3,4 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy…
Maybe he should read those, and then read these (and remember them!)
Acts 8:20
But Peter replied, "May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God's gift can be bought!
Matthew 19:24
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."
Perhaps this donor, and all other rich greedy assholes that claim to be religious, should re-read their bible, and remember what it says. Jesus was all about helping the sick and the poor. Remember how he healed lepers (without asking for their insurance cards or a $25 co-pay)? Remember how he turned stone into fish & bread to feed the masses?
Oh, they should also remember that it was the rich greedy bankers/moneychangers that were thrown out of church, not the poor.
As for being "incapable of feeling compassion for the poor", maybe that has nothing to do with religion, and everything to do with you needing an excuse for being a greedy, heartless jackass? (Just MY opinion)
Perhaps they should know what Jesus stood for before criticizing the Pope's message.
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