Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society, Torts

Fair or Fowl? Chic-fil-A President Describes Company As Run On Biblical Principles And Agenda

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

86 thoughts on “Fair or Fowl? Chic-fil-A President Describes Company As Run On Biblical Principles And Agenda”

  1. A friend of mine who is Jewish but who is 6”7″ tall, blond, 230 pounds, and looks like a Virginia football player, was working in a retail store in December one year during college, down in Charlottesville, VA. His boss was Christian, very decent guy. Josh was out front at the register and a woman walked in holding a clip-board, looked around at purchases, didn’t choose anything, and then on the way out turned to him and said, “Merry Christmas!” He smiled and responded, “Merry Christmas to you too.”

    “Great!” She said, and wrote something on her clipboard.

    “What’s that?” he asked.

    She explained: “Our organization is going around to all the stores in town and saying Merry Christmas for a greeting. If you answer “Merry Christmas” back, we put you on the list for people to do their Christmas shopping. If you say “Season’s Greetings” or “Have a nice holiday,” you’re OFF THE LIST! But you said the right thing and you passed.

    The boss was in the back and he heard all this. Josh just stood there kind of shocked and the boss came out to the front of the store. He asked the woman, “Did my employee say what you wanted to hear?”

    “Yes!” She chirped, “He sure did!”

    The boss then said, “Well add this to your list and attribute it to ME: F*CK YOU!”

    So that store didn’t get on the list. Josh sent his boss a nice Christmas present and a few of his friends added to it a lovely Christmas basket with treats, wine and fruit, anonymously adding our approval for his indignation.

  2. As for the chicken, it requires only 40 percent of the
    energy a cow needs, ie energy efficient food creator.
    =========================================
    Do you know what the compost they use to grow mushrooms is made from? Straw and something else. Is that called food creator efficiency?

    Most commercial mushroom compost is made from the cheapest waste products the mushroom farmers can get. Usually they consist of manure from chicken houses and horse manure from local stables and race houses. These are fine too use, but you need to remember that with cheap starter supplies, you get mediocre mushroom compost. Since your making your own mushroom compost why not go ahead and use the best products you can get. I always start mine with a base of horse manure and wheat straw, and add the high nutrient stuff in with it. The result are delicious flavorable mushrooms.

    http://whatbethat.com/%20mushroomhandbook/index.html

  3. Wondered why today I saw postings on FB to boycott them because of their anti gay stance.
    And Rojer J.: Ben & jerry;s contributions to progressive causes is not discriminatory behavior towards others.

  4. Blouise 1, July 19, 2012 at 6:20 pm

    junctionshamus,

    Sorry, gone all afternoon. The joke is slightly off-color having to do with a man crossing the desert with a rented camel … ok, very off-color involving fellatio. No way that camel is getting into heaven!
    ————————————-
    oh, I get it, chick fell a show … its a porn movie for heaven sake … eat more camels!

  5. junctionshamus,

    Sorry, gone all afternoon. The joke is slightly off-color having to do with a man crossing the desert with a rented camel … ok, very off-color involving fellatio. No way that camel is getting into heaven!

  7. Here we are discussing the symptoms and having a good laugh at sectarianism’s desire to rule us.

    To borrow a phrase from them, there is a long road to salvation—–from their ills.

    As for the chicken, it requires only 40 percent of the
    energy a cow needs, ie energy efficient food creator.
    Of course fish were even better, until we fished out the oceans.

    There are no large flounders to be had from the ocean outside Stockholm. There were 20 years ago. Now only fish farmed.

  8. MikeS,

    I just re-read your comment to me and broke out laughing when I read MY sentence you quoted. That I did not see my mistake until now. And I who had thought it was such a nifty sentence. Ha ha.

    No, it is not my point to require that we condemn our business men who follow the Mosaic faith, equally as much as we condemn the Christians. Of course not.

    What a verbal mistake on my part.

    ROTFLOL

  10. If you want a good laugh, just follow Chic-fil-A on twitter.

    The responses to their ‘marketing’ there is truly hilarious.

    I would never eat CAFO chicken, so will not be eating at this joint, ever. They can keep their animal abuse, environmental destruction, manure lagoons full of pfisteria and antibiotic resistant bacteria and then pay for abusing Gods creation when they go straight to hell.

  12. I used to drive my daughter through one of these after soccer practice in the nineties. She ordered something with a Polynesian sauce. Never been back.

  16. “Leninism”? What a hoot!

    If I remember correctly they (Chic-fil-A/Dwarf House) were sued by a Muslim employee back in the early 2000’s and the case was settled out of court and they have been kept off of some college campuses due to student protests against the fast-food chain’s anti-gay beliefs.

  18. “Ends justify means” = Lenin?

    How about “By any means necessary”?

  19. Tony C:

    Good thoughts all but why might a rich camel want to go to heaven where it will just be ridden around all day for eternity? It’s for poor camels.

  20. Roger J:

    “…it all goes back to Leninism, don’t ya know? “Ends justify the means.””

    ****************

    Ah, that would be properly ascribed to conservative philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli (who never wrote the words but captured the idea) advising despots on how to rule — and giving us some valuable information on statecraft along the way. Sophocles too said, ” The end justifies any evil.” Neither were Lenin.

    But why stop a good conservative rant with historical facts. They never seem to get it their way.

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