Update: Chick-fil-A is now reporting that their corporate giving has been mischaracterized. Also, Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, has released a statement. Daly writes: “I feel bad the Cathys are having to endure accounts mischaracterizing their values and charitable efforts.”
(I’ll leave the original post below, but please note that these media reports apparently stem from erroneous information.)
That’s what the L.A. Times and USA Today are reporting:
The Civil Rights Agenda (TCRA), which dubs itself the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocacy group in Illinois, said Chick-fil-A agreed in meetings to stop donating to groups such as Focus on the Family and the National Organization for Marriage. Such groups oppose same-sex marriage.
The article goes on to allege that Chick-fil-A wrote a letter to Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno, who had pledged to block an effort from Chick-fil-A to open a restaurant in his district. Moreno has apparently relented and will now allow Chick-fil-A to move forward.
If true, this would be a big deal: Chick-fil-A has given millions of dollars to pro-traditional family organizations every year. And as far as I can tell, it looks like capitulation. Why budge? Is it really bad business to believe that marriage should be defined as the union between one man and one woman? Wasn’t Alderman Moreno roundly criticized, even by journalists who condemn Mr. Cathy’s position?
Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-fil-A, happens to embrace the traditional view of marriage. Chick-fil-A is a privately owned company, and Mr. Cathy is (like many CEOs) a very wealthy man. If he wishes to be generous towards Focus on the Family and other such groups, how is that anyone’s business?
I say this as someone whose favorite restaurant is Chipotle, which was founded and is still run by a gay man.