American fast food chain stops donations to Christian charities as LGBT boycott calls extend to the UK

Chick-fil-A, founded by a Baptist, now announces it will no longer support the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Evangelical Focus

Biznow, Christianity Today, Premier Christianity · LONDON · 19 NOVEMBER 2019 · 15:03 CET

Chick-fil-A is one of the largest fast food chains in the US. / Facebook Chick-fil-A,
Chick-fil-A is one of the largest fast food chains in the US. / Facebook Chick-fil-A

The US fast food company Chick-fil-A has announced it will stop giving to Christian organisations it had supported for many years.

The decision, announced by the company’s President Tim Tassopoulos comes after being targeted by pro-LGBT groups in the United States. Lately, new controversies overshadowed the opening of their first restaurants in England and Scotland.

Until now, Chick-fil-A’s foundation donated to Christian organisations such as Salvation Army and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Both support a traditional and Biblical view of sexuality and marriage, a fact that was heavily criticised by gay activists.

 

“AS WE GO INTO NEW MARKETS, WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHO WE ARE”

“There’s no question we know that, as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are”, Tim Tassopoulos told to news website Bisnow. “There are lots of articles and newscasts about Chick-fil-A, and we thought we needed to be clear about our message”. According to the site, the Atlanta-based fast-food chain will now only focus on three initiatives with one accompanying charity each: education, homelessness and hunger.

According the Christianity Today, Chick-fil-A had already stopped giving to some groups that oppose same-sex marriage on the political sphere, such as the Family Research Council, but had continued to support organisations with a more social action focus like FCA and Salvation Army.

In 2018, the restaurant chain had given 1.65 million dollars to FCA and 115,000 to the Salvation Army.

 

SALVATION ARMY REACTS

The Salvation Army said it is “saddened to learn that a corporate partner has felt it necessary to divert funding to other hunger, education and homelessness organizations—areas in which The Salvation Army, as the largest social services provider in the world, is already fully committed”.

In answers to Christianity Today, the Christian charity added: “We serve more than 23 million individuals a year, including those in the LGBTQ+ community (…) In fact, we believe we are the largest provider of poverty relief to the LGBTQ+ population. When misinformation is perpetuated without fact, our ability to serve those in need, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or any other factor, is at risk”.

 

FOUNDED BY A BAPTIST CHRISTIAN

Chick-Fil-A was founded in 1946 by Truett Cathy, a committed Baptist Christian. It operates more than 2,300 restaurants only in the US. It has become the third largest fast-food company in the country, after McDonald’s and Starbucks.

The chain’s mission statement, established by founder Truett Cathy, is “to glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us. To have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A”.

Tim Tassopoulos, the current CEO, told Bisnow the business would be open to partner with Christian organisations in the future, as long as they do not have “anti-LGBT positions”.

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