News of Chick-fil-A’s decision to reprioritize their charitable giving and part ways with faith-based organizations like the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes has understandably disappointed its legions of Christian supporters, including me.
Established in 1946 by S. Truett Cathy, the then fledgling chicken franchise grew rapidly throughout the United States, its business guided by their self-described mission “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us.”
I’ve long loved Chick-fil-A, not just for its food but also because of the strong Christian principles the company has adhered to – even against the changing tides of culture whose forces have continuously harassed and bullied the restaurant chain over the course of the last two decades.
Monday’s news was particularly disconcerting, not just because the company has appeared to capitulate to the leftist mafia – but because Chick-fil-A’s decision financially impacts some of our nation’s premier Christian organizations.
Fellowship of Christian Athletes played a critical role in my coming to Christ. They continue to serve our nation’s youth in remarkable ways and are on the front lines in schools across the country. Likewise, the Salvation Army ministers in powerful ways, alleviating hunger and suffering on so many levels.
It would appear that Chick-fil-A has grown weary of the unrelenting attacks of the left and has concluded their affiliations with socially conservative organizations are negatively impacting their ability to expand in certain domestic and international markets.
Sadly, the left-wing mob that has harangued our friends at Chick-fil-A has perfected the art of the shakedown. They’ve come after Focus on the Family, and they’ve come after me. Recently, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees upset the left when he supported our ministry’s Bring Your Bible to School effort. Their antagonism towards Chick-fil-A is just the tip of the spear.
Thuggish groups like the Southern Poverty Law Center and GLAAD have raised millions of dollars by absurdly labeling organizations who support the biblical definition of marriage as “hate” groups. As it turns out, acquiescing to their demands is unproductive. Not only is appeasement a bad policy, but short of full surrender, it’ll never satisfy the aggrieved antagonists.
Case in point: immediately after Chick-fil-A made their announcement on Monday, GLAAD further chastised them and said they needed to disown all ties to faith-based groups who trade in “hate” like Focus on the Family. My simple question is this: Can anyone point to the “hate”? I cannot.
GLAAD’s slanderous characterization of our ministry reveals the group’s desperate efforts to try and delegitimize organizations and people with deeply held religious beliefs. This scorched earth policy undermines our country’s need for civility and respect and seeks to bully good people into silence.
Since its inception in 1977, Focus on the Family has been privileged to helps tens of millions of families navigate many of life’s greatest challenges – and will continue doing so despite GLAAD’s on-going campaign of lies and misinformation.
In recent years, the leftist mob has made clear they want to defund all faith-based activity in the public square and will stop at nothing to accomplish this objective.
As you will recall, Catholic Charities has been forced to shut down adoption services in several states because of their refusal to oversee same-sex placements.
Denver area baker Jack Phillips practically lost his award-winning shop here in Colorado because he politely declined to bake cakes for same-sex weddings. Barronelle Stutzman, who operates Arlene’s Flowers in Richland, Washington, has been patiently awaiting her day at the Supreme Court to challenge the charge she’s guilty of unlawful discrimination because she’s declined to arrange flowers for a same-sex wedding.
In the past, Hobby Lobby risked daily fines of $1.3 million for refusing to compromise their deeply held religious convictions.
I grieve for my country when three percent of its population can successfully harass billion-dollar corporations merely because they hold to two millennia-old traditional values.
As a private business, Chick-fil-A has every right to prioritize partnerships as they see fit. And I have great respect for the Cathy family for the tremendous good they have done and continue to do. But I think the organization has seriously underestimated the Christian response to their decision, and I pray they might find a way forward allowing them to continue supporting the great work of faith-based organizations like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Salvation Army.
The LGBT community has fought for decades for a place at the table. In recent years they have received a seat and are aggressively advocating for their agenda. But in a pluralistic nation like America, that seat doesn’t give anyone the right to poke others in the eye.
Does anyone else find it odd that those who claim to have been bullied have become the bullies themselves?
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Sue Ann Randall says
-Merry Christmas! I kept this e-mail article, just reread it and wonder if Chick- fil-A has maintained their decision to break their ties with the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. If it would be helpful, please let me know the best person or department of Chick-fil-A to send a letter.
Thank you. Sue Ann Randall