Dan Cathy, the president of the fast food chain Chic-fil-A, has come out swinging against his critics who have charged that he has run his company with an anti-gay, religious based agenda. Cathy stated that he is “guilty as charged” and double downed on the issue — promising to continue to run the company according to “Biblical” dictates. I guess you just think of the Last Supper and think how Jesus would prepare your Chick-fil-a deluxe. [Update: The restaurant is now trying to dampen the rising outcry from gay rights groups while not denying any of the statements made by its chief operating officer.]
Cathy told the Baptist Press that he wants to advance the “biblical definition of the family unit” in his business. He stressed “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives.” This Biblical approach to the $4 billion a year business includes training workers “to focus on values rooted in the Bible.” He insists that “as an organization we can operate on biblical principles.” However, given the response to his interview, the business could be a lot smaller before long.
The question is not just how customers — including many gay and secular citizens — will take to the intermingling of Biblical tenets with their taters. There is also the legal questions that may be raised from these comments. The company is still subject to discrimination law on the state and federal levels. Cathy’s comment could be cited as evidence of a hostile workplace by workers claiming harassment or discrimination. He appears to acknowledge the intentional creation of a culture in the company based on religious dictates.
None of this question his right to donate millions to anti-gay Christian organizations — any more than the controversial charity work of Domino’s Pizza founder and conservative Christian Tom Monaghan. Likewise, the founders of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream contributed heavily to liberal causes. While some consumers have boycotted Domino’s over his support for conservative Christian causes, this remains an exercise of free speech from Monaghan as it does Cathy. However, Cathy has gone further to say that he expects his workers to reflect his religious-based values. It should be noted, however, that he appears to be primarily speaking of his view of the traditional marriage. Frankly, the politics or values of a chef or an owner do not affect my decision-making on products.
Yet, the comments could become relevant in future legal actions where the culture of the company is put into question. Indeed, with these comments, Cathy could find himself on a deposition list to force him to detail how he enforces these expectations.
At first, I was skeptical that the Bible said much about fast food, but a little research shows that I was wrong.
First, the emphasis on chicken removes the problem under Leviticus 11:1-47:
And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. …
He does however need to expand the vegetarian offerings:
Romans 14:1-23
As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.
Biblical pricing however offers ample room for growth:
Isaiah 55:2
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
As for those cows telling you to go to Chick-fil-a, they can now add “it’s not just economical, it’s biblical.”
Source: Daily Mail
This nation is going crazy–worrying about the owner of chick-fil-a’s religious views. As far as I know, he is not imposing his views on ANYONE. When Obama was against gays getting married,, no one complained. The owner of chick-fil-a should be applauded for giving young people, straight and gay, jobs and Sundays off to do their own thiing. My friends and I are going to chick-fil-a twice as much as in the past. Liberals are going overboard. It was not enough to curtail large sugary soft drinks and limit the use of salt by Mayor Bloomberg of New York, now he wants to hide the baby formula so women have to nurse their babies. I do not want some politician telling me how to eat, what to drink, and how to raise my children. I do not want somebody telling me not to go to a restaurant because the owner thinks differently than they think he should. This is America, land of the free. We must remember this and not let government and socialists interfere with our rights as citizens.