Chicago Official Vexed by Chick-fil-A Statements
Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno is demanding clear answers from Chick-fil-A after the fast-food chain provided seemingly contradictory statements regarding its corporate giving.
"Dear @GovMikeHuckabee & @ChickfilA, Confusion sucks. Let's make this whole thing clear, yeah?" Moreno tweeted Sunday.
Moreno said he received a letter from Chick-fil-A executives earlier this year that stated that their not-for-profit arm, The WinShape Foundation, would not support organizations with political agendas.
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"We were told that these organizations included groups that politically work against the rights of gay and lesbian people," said Moreno, who earlier threatened to block the chain from opening a restaurant in his ward over Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy's "homophobic" remarks.
With that, Moreno declared victory as he announced last week that Chick-fil-A would no longer fund "anti-gay" groups and that it would add "sexual orientation" to its anti-discrimination clause.
But days later, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee refuted the claim after speaking with Cathy.
While Cathy did confirm that the company continues to focus on the fair treatment of all its customers and employees - as the company has stated before - he stressed that he did not make any "concessions" for the alderman.
"There continues to be erroneous implications in the media that Chick-fil-A changed our practices and priorities in order to obtain permission for a new restaurant in Chicago. That is incorrect. Chick-fil-A made no such concessions, and we remain true to who we are and who we have been," Cathy told Huckabee.
The company also released its internal memo where it stated: "A part of our corporate commitment is to be responsible stewards of all that God has entrusted to us. Because of this commitment, Chick-fil-A's giving heritage is focused on programs that educate youth, strengthen families and enrich marriages, and support communities. We will continue to focus our giving in those areas. Our intent is not to support political or social agendas."
Now Moreno wants Cathy to clear up the confusion.
"Since Mr. Cathy made a PUBLIC statement, I am PUBLICLY asking him to confirm and support what I was told and shown by his company representatives," he said in a public letter Sunday.
There are three things Moreno wants confirmation on: that for the first time, Chick-fil-A distributed a document guaranteeing that it will treat every person with honor and respect, regardless of their beliefs, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender; that company executives voluntarily gave Moreno a letter stating the future behavior of their not-for-profit arm; and that the company has not and will not donate to entities with political agendas, "including organizations that politically work against the rights of gay and lesbian people."
Earlier this year, Cathy had stated in separate interviews that he supports the "biblical definition of the family unit" and that America is "inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage."
Those comments drew fire from LGBT communities and elected officials such as Moreno.
"There are consequences for one's actions, statements and beliefs. Because of this man's ignorance, I will deny Chick-fil-A a permit to open a restaurant in my ward," Moreno stated at the time.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of customers have expressed their support for the company's free speech and biblical views.
One commenter also responded to Moreno on his Twitter page, stating, "@Alderman_Moreno Joe Moreno stop your ... assault on biz who you disagree with."
Moreno has again threatened to block the chain from entering his ward. He stated that he provided a letter of support for Chick-fil-A to the City of Chicago last week after allegedly receiving word from company executives about their supposed changes. But following the statement to Huckabee, Moreno said he will "wait to see what Mr. Cathy's next PUBLIC statement is, and reflect on that statement before moving forward with appropriate legislation."
"I still need to introduce legislation to make the Chick-fil-A in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago a reality."
READ: CHIC-FIL-A, JOEL OSTEEN - WHY NEUTRALITY IS NOT AN OPTION IN TODAY'S CULTURE WAR
