A Catholic Hooray for Chick-fil-A: Stand in Solidarity for Marriage on August 1st
This orchestrated effort againt Chick fil-A is an example of viewpoint discrimination parading as a concern for equality
Chick-fil-A is under assault because their President publicly affirmed their company support for true marriage and the family and society founded upon it. Dan Cathy expressed his deeply held religious convictions to the Baptist Press and literally - all hell broke loose among some new Cultural Revolutionaries. Next Wednesday, August 1, 2012, I intend to eat a Chick-fil-A sandwich and participate in the National Day of Appreciation for Chick-fil-A. I hope you join me.
PrintCHESAPEAKE, VA (Catholic Online) - Next Wednesday, August 1, 2012, I intend to eat a Chick-fil-A sandwich and participate in the National Day of Appreciation for Chick-fil-A. I hope you join me and thousands of others in responding to the invitation of former Senator Rick Santorum, former Governor Mike Huckabee and Rev. Billy Graham and do the same.
I have long admired Chick-fil-A. It was founded over thirty years ago by an evangelical protestant Christian named Truett Cathy. His son Dan now runs the family owned and family values based company which now operates 1600 stores. It has become a $4 billion dollar a year enterprise. You can read about this good family and their genuine and living Christian faith here. You might also find their work in philanthropy of interest. Read about it here.
The restaurants do not open on Sunday in order to honor the Lord's Day and allow their employees to do the same. They have resisted efforts to change not only this policy but other pressures to compromise on their core convictions. The founders offer us all an example of moral coherence as Christians. They apply the great principles of their faith to their business practices. They do not fall prey to the separation between faith and life which can so quickly creep into the life of Christians.
Now, Chick-fil-A is under a ferocious assault precisely because their President publicly affirmed their company support for true marriage and the family and society founded upon it. Dan Cathy expressed his deeply held religious convictions to the Baptist Press and literally - all hell broke loose among some new Cultural Revolutionaries.
Among the most vocal opponents was Carlos Maza of "Equality Matters", a homosexual equivalency activist group. He told the Washington Post that Dan Cathy's position in defense of marriage, along with the contributions made by his family's foundation to pro-life and pro-family groups, "solidifies Chick-fil-A as being closely aligned with some of the most vicious anti-gay voices in the country." That is nonsense. To defend marriage does not equate to being "anti-gay".
This orchestrated effort against Chick fil-A is an example of viewpoint discrimination parading as a concern for equality. It has now been embraced by two elected officials in Chicago. Chicago alderman Joe Moreno threatens to block the building of a Chick-fil-A restaurant in his City. He has received support from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The Mayor told the Press "Chick-fil-A values are not Chicago values." This kind of government action is unconstitutional and should be challenged in Court.
I was saddened to see that the Mayor of my birthplace, Boston, Massachusetts, Mayor Thomas Menino, sent a letter to the CEO of Chick-fil-A in which he wrote "there is no place for discrimination on Boston's Freedom Trail and no place for your company alongside it." Just who is discriminating Mr. Mayor? So much for your claimed liberalism and regard for free speech; you are engaging in viewpoint censorship!
I am honored to stand with Governor Huckabee, Senator Santorum and others in eating a Chick-fil-A sandwich on Wednesday August 1, 2012. I ask the readers of Catholic Online to do join along. We are in good company and making an act of solidarity together for marriage and for free speech.
Rev Billy Graham released a statement on Thursday in which he said, "I applaud the courage of Cathy and Chick-fil-A to take a bold stand for the biblical definition of marriage between a man and woman in a culture that has grown openly hostile to the Christian faith and its followers." I can only add a Catholic Hooray for Chick-fil-A to this good man's observation.
Unlike former Governor Huckabee and my friend former Senator Rick Santorum, I will not use the term "traditional marriage". I believe making a distinction between so called "traditional" Marriage and other feigned "marriages" is a mistake. Marriage is what it is, period. The very phrase "gay marriage" or "homosexual marriage" is an oxymoron.
True marriage is the preeminent and the most fundamental of all human social institutions. It is a relationship defined by nature itself and protected by the natural law that binds all men and women. It finds its foundation in the order of creation. Civil institutions do not create marriage nor can they create a "right" to marry for those who are incapable of marriage.
To limit marriage to heterosexual couples is not discriminatory now, nor has it ever been. Homosexual couples cannot bring into existence what marriage intends by its very definition. To now "confer" the benefits that have been conferred in the past only to stable married couples and families to homosexual paramours is bad public ...
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Rob, I dislike all the parties. What can I say? I know what both are capable of and have done...and usually it is the same thing. But I just can not take another 4 more years of Obama. His laws, His friends, his excuses, his blunders, etc. His whole government stinks to high heaven. Romney hasn't had a chance yet. Nothing can be worse than this country's mess.I don't need to reiterate them. Personally, I think I will be in dire straits if Obama wins. Obama had his turn.
What good did he do? Spew rhetoric? Not to me. Obama and Out. Blessings...
Judy, in many ways I find the dems more trustworthy. Now before you fall out of your chair, let me explain. The immorality that pervades their party is no secret. They embrace and are open with it. We know exactly where they stand. But what I find completely offensive is the GOP's tactic of using God and country to get votes and then forget the promises once they are in office. Thier social platform only rears it's head during elections and legislation is halfhearted, mostly political stunts that do nothing. Our federal folks do not have the guts that our state legislators seem to have. Personally, I'm sick of being played by them. Some of you may be ok with getting used, but I am not.
The only reason we have Romney as a nominee is because the others went to far on the social issues. And as we all know, it's the social issues that will save this country or destroy it. I'm not sure what the dems care about, but the GOP has a god and it's money. There will be no moral awakening, taking our country back etc with these guys. Just more of the same...espeically with Mitt...the guy has no core. I have no idea how in the world he became the nominee.
Hi Vance! Yes, the Church I believe was slow, but at least she's "... getting in the ring now". We must accept what is, as she has had to accept and deal with her mischievous children as well. Pope Benedict knows how to bite! Thank God! Because in my humble opinion, this non-Catholic teaching in Catholic colleges, has gone on waaay too long. An entire generation.The only thing I will say here, is that it is evil, and Not of God. The Holy See's love and compassion and negotiations were too long. Now, I should be chastised! Who am I to question Peter? Did not Paul, and many others go to him? Did not Jesus Christ Our Lord choose him? I should be ashamed. He has the whole world on his shoulders. We must pray for our Holy Father...
The Bishops seem to be on a united front, with more than a half dozen taking the lead. That is marvelous! It did Not take the HHS Mandate to wake up some. A few were in the ring before the first Obama election. I forget if they are bishops or archbishops, so I won"t quote names here.
OBAMA and OUT!
Jo Ann: "Right on"! America, the Land of the Free, is for ALL. Just like Our Catholic Church is for ALL. We are trying to keep both, by voting out Obama. Do you not see how they go hand in hand? "God Bless Us Everyone"!
Dear Friends: Let's not lose sight of what this is all about. The left "again" has succeeded in changing the narrative. They have us distracted again. The main issue here is the FIRST AMENDEMENT! Mr. Cathy has the RIGHT to express his opinion. He has a right to practice and voice his Faith. He did not attack the "gay community." He just voiced that he believed in traditional marriage. AND, I say, he can do anything he wants with his money for that matter.. If this was an attack on homosexuals, where are the protesters on divorced and remarried citizens. He also said he was still married to his first wife. No, my friends, let's take this narrative back. Our 1st Amendment rights are again being infringed upon and any "gay" citizen out there with any ounce of sense should get the chip off their shoulder and stand up for 1st amendment. In the long run, it is your 1st amentment right that is being infringed upon also, NOT your lifestyle. God bless.
Hi Judy, Yes, the Party of Death has a long track record of corruption, lies and deceit in it's quest to transform America into a communist country. They have made great strides this past four years. The HHS mandate woke up a lot of Catholics. Anyone who read Obamacare saw the mandate in the law back in 2009. The Church is too slow on the draw. They should have file suit right along side the GOP's lawsuit. Unless Romney wins with a GOP congressional majority, we will be Mexico 1920's. Keep up the good work.
Theresa H., I agree! Very Good Post! "Sacred Heart Of Jesus, Immaculate Heart Of Mary, Pray For Us" .
I still don't believe Dan Cathy of Chic-Fil-A was making a mere "political statement." Like other business-owners who have deeply-held religious beliefs, he will be FORCED even more than the Churches to pay for abortions and contraceptives in his employee healthcare plans--against his solemn religious beliefs. According to the First Amendment, he should not be forced to do this. Period. If someone doesn't like this "right" of Dan Cathy, they need not apply for a job with Chic-Fil-A! It's as simple as that! (Or does he not have the right to hire who he wants for his own business?) Why is the government creating all these imaginary "rights" and regulations over people! Whatever happened to "limited government"...? On top of "HIPAA," we now have thousands and thousands and thousands of pages of government regulations--on everything under the sun!
Kathy, Loved your post! Blessings...
Vance and Rob, Well, here we go on the merry-go-round! One says its one party that makes a mess that the other has to clean up; the other says its the other party. Honestly, I think a lot of us think that way. Though Rob, you have to admit, in your saying you vote Rep., you sure support the Dems. I know Vances' colors. He's true blue. And that's okay if you Rob, like to change...after all, that is what Freedom is. It is just that, a Dem. use to be a Dem. But Now, he is a mixture of many: Dem, liberal Dem, Marxist Dem., Extreme Left Dem,,it is pretty darn hard to tell, unless one hears them speak. And yes Rob, if that is what you would like to wish upon us, thanks for the good wishes...I just Hope we keep Peace and Freedom and Faith and Love. Blessings..