Former Arkansas governor and TV and radio talk-show host posted a statement yesterday from Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick Fil-A, that further clears the air over claims the company had capitulated to demands of the supporters of same sex marriage.
“There continues to be erroneous implications in the media that Chick-fil-A changed our practices and priorities in order to obtain permission for a new restaurant in Chicago. That is incorrect. Chick-fil-A made no such concessions, and we remain true to who we are and who we have been,” Cathy said.
Mainstream media organizations headlined the claim Chick-fil-A had suddenly promised not to discriminate against homosexuals – and that it would stop giving money to those organizations that promote traditional marriage.
“Chick-fil-A says it will stop funding antigay groups” proclaimed the Detroit Free Press.
But, as WND reported, the facts were that the company’s anti-discrimination policy remained just as it had been months ago – before the controversy over owner Dan Cathy’s Christian beliefs erupted – and its donations had had no new directive applied.
The controversy erupted over the summer, when Cathy told Baptist Press he was “guilty as charged” for supporting the “biblical definition of the family unit.”
Homosexual lobbyists and activists pounced, promoting a boycott and obtaining statements from city officials such as Chicago’s Joe Moreno that they would crack down on the company over the CEO’s beliefs and threatened to keep a new store from opening in his ward.
Marriage supporters responded to a campaign by former presidential candidate Gov. Mike Huckabee for a “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” by lining up by the thousands at stores. Additionally, more than 6.3 million people have “liked” Chick-fil-A on Facebook.
It was a statement from the pro-homosexual Civil Rights Agenda that prompted the recent headlines. It stated that Moreno had “finalized” negotiations with the company with a promise to no longer give money to “anti-gay” organizations.
The statement said the Cathy family’s foundation, the WinShape Foundation, “is now taking a much closer look at the organizations it considers helping, and in that process will remain true to its stated philosophy of not supporting organizations with political agendas.”
But it was in July when the company stated, “Going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government and political arena.”
In an interview with Current.com, Moreno said, “I also recently reviewed their 990 statement, which is a statement that shows all of their givings, they must submit publicly in the spring, and as of this date they haven’t given a dollar to those groups.”
But the most recent 990 form covered 2011, meaning there was no “objectionable” giving, according to Moreno, as long back as 21 months – predating any of the flap over Cathy’s statements.
In short, there never was a story to begin with and there has been no “change” since.
In a statement John Daly, president of Focus on the Family, which has received funding from the Winshape Foundation, confirmed that the company and its owners would continue their commitment to pro-family groups and causes. “Dan and Bubba Cathy are my Christian brothers and good friends,” Daly said. “They and their company have long shared Focus on the Family’s commitment to helping build strong and thriving families – and they have in no way deviated from that deeply held and biblically inspired passion while working with the city of Chicago to open Chick-fil-A restaurants there.”
