Evangelist Billy Graham has come to the
defense of Chick-Fil-A, whose president, Dan Cathy, has been widely
criticized for his opposition to gay marriage.
Cathy unleashed a firestorm of
controversy when he said gay marriage is “inviting God's judgment
on our nation.” He pivoted
in a subsequent interview, insisting “we don't have an anti-gay
or anti-anything policy or attitude toward anybody that's out there.”
Between 2003 and 2010, Chick-Fil-A gave nearly $5 million to groups
opposed to gay rights, according to Equality
Matters.
On Thursday, Graham issued a statement
praising founder Truett Cathy and his son Dan Cathy for “their
strong stand for the Christian faith.”
“I've known their family for many
years and have watched them grow Chick-Fil-A into one of the best
businesses in America while never compromising their values,”
Graham said.
“Each generation faces different
issues and challenges, but our standard must always be measured by
God's word. I appreciate the Cathy family's public support for God's
definition of marriage.”
The 93-year-old Graham also said he
plans to visit a Chick-Fil-A next Wednesday in support of Mike
Huckabee's “Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day.”
(Related: Rick
Santorum supports Mike Huckabee's “Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day.”)
In May, Graham
spoke out in support of North Carolina's gay marriage ban.