Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy Says He’s ‘Guilty As Charged’ On Anti-Gay Stance

By Joseph Orovic | July 18 2012 1:54 PM

Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy responded to accusations that he's a homophobe by saying he's guilty as charged, in an interview with the Baptist Press.

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Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy responded to accusations that he’s a homophobe by saying he’s “guilty as charged,” in an interview with the Baptist Press. The accusations arose after it was revealed the company has thrown its weight behind strong anti-gay organizations such as Focus On The Family and the Pennsylvania Family Institute.

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The accusations arose after it was revealed the company has thrown its weight behind strong anti-gay organizations such as Focus On The Family and the Pennsylvania Family Institute.

We are very much supportive of the family -- the biblical definition of the family unit, he said. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.

Cathy defined the company as led by biblical principals, but not strictly a Christian business.

Christ never died for a corporation, he said. He died for you and me.

Chick-fil-A co-sponsored an event with the Pennsylvania Family Institute, the state's leading anti-gay marriage organization. The company also reportedly donated $1.1 million in 2011 to organizations that promote anti-LGBT legislation and messages, as well as promote curing people of their homosexuality.

The company made $2 million donations to similar organizations in 2009 and 2010 through its charity wing, WinShape.

Cathy, for his part, has been up-front and dismissive of the charges. His company, which serves fried chicken sandwiches, is doing God's work.

All throughout the New Testament there is an evangelism strategy related to our performance in the workplace. ... Our work should be an act of worship. Our work should be our mission field. As long as we are stateside, let's don't think we have to go on mission trips by getting a passport. ... If you're obedient to God you are going to be evangelistic in the quality of the work you do, using that as a portal to share [Christ], he said.