Posted on 11/21/2019 8:19:49 AM PST by SeekAndFind
A Chick-fil-A restaurant in Lowndes County, Georgia | (Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Michael Rivera)
Rev. Franklin Graham said he was assured by Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy that the company "remains committed to Christian values," after the fast-food chains charity arm decided to no longer donate to three organizations criticized for upholding traditional Christian beliefs on sexuality.
In a Thursday morning Facebook post, Graham, leader of Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said he spoke with Cathy on the phone.
Franklin Graham interviewed by Together LA, Fresno, California, May 28, 2018. | (Photo: Screengrab, Together LA)
"Dan was very clear that they have not bowed down to anyones demands, including the LGBTQ community. They will continue to support whoever they want to support. They havent changed who they are or what they believe. Chick-fil-A remains committed to Christian values. Dan Cathy assured me that this isnt going to change. I hope all those who jumped to the wrong conclusion about them read this," Graham wrote.
After it was reported this week that the Chick-fil-A Foundation switched up its giving structure to no longer include the Salvation Army, Paul Anderson Youth Home in Georgia and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the company has faced a wave of conservative uproar in response to the decision.
Many people have fought for Chick-fil-A and for them to capitulate to the bullies is betrayal, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, one of Washingtons most prominent Christian conservative activists, said on his radio show Tuesday.
Donations to those organizations were the focus of much media scrutiny for Chick-fil-A after it was reported earlier this year that Chick-fil-A Foundation donated up to $1.8 million to the groups. Critics labeled the organizations as discriminatory because of their anti-LGBT beliefs on marriage.
Chick-fil-A has itself often been criticized because its founder, S. Truett Cathy, voiced his opposition to gay marriage in 2012. Because of Cathys belief in traditional Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality, the company faced boycotts and condemnation from state and city leaders.
Graham argued, "In my opinion, the gay movement wouldnt ever be happy with Chick-fil-A unless they were open on Sunday, gave all of their charitable donations to LGBTQ organizations, and flew the rainbow flag over their stores! Their hatred for Chick-fil-A is rooted in founder Truett Cathys strong stand for biblical traditional values and his desire to honor God."
A Bisnow exclusive Monday revealed that Chick-fil-A Foundation altered its philanthropic structure (which made over 300 donations) to one that focuses on three initiatives with one charity accompanying charity each.
The foundation plans to give $9 million to Junior Achievement USA to support education and Covenant House International to fight homelessness. In addition, the foundation will donate $25,000 to local community food banks to fight hunger every time a new restaurant is opened.
Theres no question we know that, as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are, Chick-fil-A President and Chief Operating Officer Tim Tassopoulos was quoted as saying in the article.
Since then, at least tens of thousands of supporters have backed an online petition launched by the Christian conservative American Family Association demanding that Chick-fil-A clarify its position on sexuality and marriage and reinstate donations made to the organizations.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a former Baptist pastor who coordinated Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day in 2012 in response to left-wing backlash to Catheys position on marriage, said that he believes Chick-fil-A made a big mistake.
Chick-fil-A can give whatever money they want to whatever group they want, Huckabee said on Perkins Washington Watch radio show. They are free to do that. But when they did what they did yesterday, what was really objectionable was that they basically affirmed the lie that has been told from the far-left about the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
All those millions of people that stood in line for hours to get a chicken sandwich just to say we stand with you and we affirm your right of free speech and right of religion and the right of association, they have to feel deeply disappointed with the organization, Huckabee continued.
Perkins contends that the backlash has been so strong because Chick-fil-A road a wave of conservative support to its highest profits ever despite multiple attempts from the political left to bar Chick-fil-A restaurants in airports, cities, and college campuses over the last decade.
They didn't just survive the LGBT-initiated boycotts they thrived, doubling sales since the moment liberals decided it was a controversy to give to charities like the Salvation Army, Perkins wrote in an op-ed. Millions of families drove out of their way to stop at Chick-fil-A not because the chicken was that good, but because their conviction was.
According to Perkins, people who held up this company as a model of moral courage were betrayed.
Unlike so many others in corporate America, Chick-fil-A was standing on truth and winning, Perkins argued. Then, after years of holding the line, they just up and walked off the field, leaving loyal customers holding the bag.
Chick-fil-A has defended the decision, stating that it has more do with a philanthropic restructuring rather than a desire to cave to political correctness.
In a statement to The Christian Post on Monday, a company spokesperson stated that no organization will be excluded from future consideration faith-based or non-faith based.
Chick-fil-A has not responded to a follow-up question from CP asking whether or not faith-based organizations that publicly adhere to Christian faith's historic teaching regarding marriage will be included in future consideration.
Conservative evangelical commentator Erick Erickson said on his radio show Wednesday that Chick-fil-A should be given the benefit of the doubt by conservatives but stressed that Chick-fil-A should offer clarification of its position.
They have made a lot of their loyal customer base mad with what happened, Erickson said. What troubles conservatives is Tassopouloss statement that as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are.
Erickson urged conservatives to presume that it is not about placating the left.
Lets presume this has nothing to do with distancing themselves from Christian groups. Lets presume they have been giving money to these organizations and now they have decided they want to give to other organizations now, Erickson said.
Lets presume there is no nefarious intent. But let us also understand that this comes at the very moment that the left is telling Chick-fil-A they will be fought ruthlessly at airports and locations around the world until they distance themselves from these two groups. And as they distance themselves from these two groups the left is telling them they have to stop supporting. So it can be a coincidence but it has left the impression that Chick-fil-A is caving to the left-wing mob.
Jim Daly, president of the Christian conservative organization Focus on the Family, wrote in a blog post Wednesday night that he believes Chick-fil-A "underestimated the Christian response to their decision."
"Mondays news was particularly disconcerting, not just because the company has appeared to capitulate to the leftist mafia but because Chick-fil-As decision financially impacts some of our nations premier Christian organizations," Daly wrote.
"Fellowship of Christian Athletes played a critical role in my coming to Christ. They continue to serve our nations 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."
Graham, who lost weight on a vegan diet in 2016, said he will continue to enjoy Chick-fil-A meals.
"No fast food chain does a better job. I went through the drive-thru at Chick-fil-A yesterday morning, and I thought I might get dinner therebut a whole lot of other people had the same idea! A Chick-fil-A sandwich with waffle fries sounds really good right now!" he wrote.
Their philanthropy played a HUGE role in their commercial success. We ate there many times just because of their stand for marriage. We could just as easily have eaten something else.
Now they have removed a major reason for our support of them. The have left the field to the perverts and have become just another pro-faggotry business. Why should we do business with them?
They need to fix this and come out with a strong and blatant statement of their support for biblical marriage. If the perverts are not upset with them then the statement is not nearly strong enough.
Bwahahaahahahahahaha, same playbook, same meaningless “innocent” questions repeated over and over demanding answers as in 2016.
I am GUFFAWING, just like in 2016, remember?
Just like in 2016, many here on this thread share my POV, yet a “few” decided to call out, taunt and bully just me over it, and why?
Because I noticed their coordination of posted content.
Just like in 2016.
Folks, it’s getting real deep in here again, so keep the hip waders on and powder dry.
+100
Again, avoiding answering the question
My first thought when reading the headline.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha, KEEP IT COMING!
Truett Cathy, father and founder, died 5 years ago
It must be one of his 3 children....Dan I guess
Its both......but youre very new here I see.
As Andrew Klavan said yesterday in regard to Chick-fil-As decision, Its easy to tease people over these little things, but these little things are the grains of sand that get eaten away over time so that pretty soon you look around and your Christian heritage is gone.... This is where the revolution takes place. Its not in the big fights that come eventually, its in the little fights that come every day.
Im sorry, but you just dont seem to get it.....all due respect.
Their food isn’t as good either. The last time I went, mine was terrible. We haven’t been back. There has been a decline in quality in addition to them kissing butt with the oppressors.
If we don’t like what they do, stop going there. Don’t promote them as faith friendly. ESPN did an about face and is now trying to improve their product instead of preach. If these corporate fascists take us for granted we can cook our own food.
I have done some bell ringing for the SA over the past few Christmases. I highly recommend it. The experience will really pull you back from the brink of “the entire world has just gone to hell in a handbasket”.
I was amazed by the number of people who walked up and thanked me for being there.
“Dan was very clear that they have not bowed down to anyones demands, including the LGBTQ community. They will continue to support whoever they want to support. They havent changed who they are or what they believe. Chick-fil-A remains committed to Christian values. Dan Cathy assured me that this isnt going to change. I hope all those who jumped to the wrong conclusion about them read this,” Graham wrote.
In some ways, this contradicts their previous statement. And this statement is not backed up in any way at this point. So I don’t see how this changes anything.
Well said!.....very well said!
The CEO is a biggie in Boy Scouts of America.
Make of that what you will...
Does anyone really think they weren't?
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