August 1, 2012 – 11:00 am
Tom Messner for Heritage's The Foundry blog:
Same-sex marriage combined with nondiscrimination policies will result in significant discrimination against individuals and institutions that hold to the belief that marriage is—and should be defined in law as—the union of one man and one woman.
In the latest illustration of how this will happen, a Chicago alderman recently explained that he plans to block the chicken restaurant Chick-fil-A from building a new restaurant in his ward because he is offended by the belief of the company’s owners that marriage is between one man and one woman.
“There are consequences for one’s actions, statements and beliefs,” the official stated. “Because of this man’s ignorance, I will deny Chick-fil-A a permit to open a restaurant in my ward.”
Under pressure, this official might attempt to alter his rationale for targeting Chick-fil-A—or even back down altogether like the mayor of Boston did when he was criticized for targeting Chick-fil-A in his city.
However it turns out, though, the Chick-fil-A situation certainly adds to the growing list of cases illustrating how individuals and institutions that continue to support marriage as one man and one woman will likely face a variety of significant burdens [...]
August 1, 2012 – 10:30 am
Cardinal Roger Mahony, the former Archbishop of Los Angeles and someone who has advocated for causes on both side of the aisle, comes out strongly in favor of religious freedom and Chick-fil-A:
"...Mayor Edwin Lee of San Francisco tweeted: "Closest Chick-fil-A to San Francisco is 40 miles away & and I strongly recommend that they not try to come any closer." California has 59 stores, Mayor Lee, and more are in the works.
... Regarding marriage, the question is rather simple: Is marriage of God's origin? Or, is marriage of government origin? We Catholics and many others of similar belief shout loudly that marriage is of God's origin, and we will never stop our efforts to maintain that understanding and practice of marriage in our broader society.
All Catholics, but especially Catholic business leaders, should be in the forefront of efforts to protect all religious liberties and freedoms across our nation. Because as we have just seen, lots of folks out there are eager to punish us for clinging to and expressing our faith beliefs, values, and practices. If government can "punish" a store owner for his faith beliefs and threaten to close his store because of those beliefs, then we are all in big trouble.
We as Catholics need to stand tall, know our faith beliefs, and proclaim those to the whole world in the name of Jesus Christ!
Marriage Cow by Alexander Hunter, Washington Times
Robert Knight in the Washington Times:
"...This isn’t the first time Chick-fil-A has been singled out. In February 2011, homosexual activists launched an unsuccessful boycott when they found out that the company donated food to the Pennsylvania Family Institute’s marriage retreat. Seriously, it doesn’t take much to tick them off.
,...That’s what marriage laws do, too — they define the institution. It’s no accident that the media routinely describe marriage laws as “gay marriage bans,” as if marriage didn’t exist until recently, when it was invented solely to vex homosexuals. You think I’m joking? That’s what openly homosexual U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker essentially said in his bizarre ruling striking down California’s voter-approved constitutional marriage amendment.
The Illinois GOP, which obviously includes the 1st Ward of Chicago where Alderman Joe Moreno said he would try to ban Chick-fil-A, is offering a free gift card to Eat Mor Chikin with a donation to their organization, as local WJBC radio reports:
The Illinois Republican Party is hoping to cash in on the Chick-fil-A controversy.
In response to a Chicago alderman’s attempt to block Chick-fil-A from opening a restaurant in his ward, the GOP is offering $5 Chick-fil-A gift cards to anyone who donates at least $10 to the party. The appeal was included in an e-mail that the party sent to supporters.
Alderman Joe Moreno is blocking approval of a Chick-fil-A story on Chicago’s Northwest Side after restaurant president Dan Cathy publicly declared his opposition to gay marriage.
