Chick-fil-A may cater, but not to the demands San Antonio liberals care about. Now, three weeks into the City Council’s decision to ban the restaurant from the local airport, Texas conservatives know: This case for their religious liberty bill was made to order.
“Everyone has a place here, and everyone should feel welcome when they walk through our airport,” City Councilman Roberto Treviño told the media after the council’s 6-4 vote to boot the chicken chain from opening a shop in the terminal. Why? Because the owners dare to donate to charities like the Salvation Army. “Ridiculous!” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, responded on Twitter. “That’s not Texas,” he argued.
Unfortunately, the state’s conservatives worry, that will be Texas if something isn’t done to protect religious freedom.
“With this decision,” Treviño insisted, the council “reaffirmed the work [San Antonio] has done to become a champion of inclusion.” Until, of course, that “inclusion” applies to people who support natural marriage and sexuality. Where’s the equality for them? That’s a question the Lone Star State is trying to answer with the introduction of HB 1035, the Free to Believe Act, and the First Amendment Defense Act.
Chick-fil-A may be a private company, but that doesn’t mean it has to surrender its beliefs at the dining room door. And the same goes for any American trying to live out their faith in the public square.
The San Antonio City Council thinks it can’t, “in good conscience,” sign an airport agreement with a business owned by Christians. But isn’t that exactly what this debate is about—conscience? Just because the Cathy family owns a national restaurant chain doesn’t mean they’re excluded from the First Amendment.
Regardless of what liberals say, religious freedom isn’t just for churches. It’s for every business, wedding vendor, adoption agency, charity, doctor—every citizen. And that’s what HB 1035 is hoping to remind Texans.
“We’re waking up in an era where Christian faith, specifically, seems to be under attack,” said Republican state Sen. Charles Perry. In the current political climate, he’s worried Christians can’t practice their faith openly without facing consequences—including the loss of their jobs and livelihood.
Under the Free to Believe Act, government officials can’t punish Texans for thinking differently than the radical left. That’s just “a license to discriminate,” LGBT activists argue.
Not true, Republicans like Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick fired back. No one is trying to create a religious excuse for businesses to turn people away. No believer I know would want that—let alone lobby for it. As even Chick-fil-A has said, everyone should feel welcome at its restaurant.
This debate has never been about Christians discriminating against anyone—it’s about stopping the government from discriminating against them.
Even in some of the more high-profile wedding vendor cases, where the left is trying to paint Christians as intolerant monsters who want to slam the door shut on same-sex couples, you’ll find that—to a person—each shop owner was more than happy to sell the activists something off their shelves. In fact, Barronelle Stutzman of Arlene’s Flowers considered the man who sued her to be one of her best customers.
I knew he was in a relationship with a man and he knew I was a Christian. But that never clouded the friendship for either of us or threatened our shared creativity—until he asked me to design something special to celebrate his upcoming wedding. If all he’d asked for were prearranged flowers, I’d gladly have provided them. If the celebration were for his partner’s birthday, I’d have been delighted to pour my best into the challenge. But as a Christian, weddings have a particular significance.
In Chick-fil-A’s case, the left’s overreaction is almost comical. The Cathy family hasn’t done any overt lobbying on natural marriage for years. In fact, they’ve intentionally backed away from taking a stand on issues of biblical morality—yet still, they’re a target.
That ought to show everyone that there’s just no appeasing the left. Simply being a Christian in the workforce—even a polite and politically silent one—is enough to draw the liberals’ wrath.
But the Democrats’ new terrain, where your personal views disqualify you from participating in society, is a dangerous precedent.
If liberals choose not to eat Chick-fil-A, that’s their right. Just like it’s our right not to shop at Target until they stop putting women and children in danger with their bathroom policies. What isn’t our decision—or theirs—is to exclude these businesses from the market altogether.
Originally published in Tony Perkins’ Washington Update, which is written with the aid of Family Research Council senior writers.
My wife and I had chosen San Antonio as our destination in the near future. Now, forget it. I am tired of liberals trying to run my life and instead ruin my life. Let the American public decide if they stay or go with their pocketbooks.
liberals cannot accept the fact that decent people do not endorse their evil.
Texas should pass a law banning Progressive-Socialists(aka, Democrats) from residing in the state. And when they leave, take the Illegals with you!
The news media never showed anything about Chick-fil-A opening on a Sunday to feed victims and others, without charge, at the scene of the mass shooting at the gay night club in Florida.
I agree that chick- -a has the right to have a business at the airport. I have eaten a chick-fil-A wear I live. The service is great and never is any one turn down for service.
They have a right to believe in there Christian values. They should not be denied there right to have a business just because they believe in the bible and what it teaches.
We as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ need to take a stand against the ungodly. Vote for Conservatives who stand for biblical and moral values and contact your Representatives often and express your views. Patronize CFA and other Conservative/Christian businesses. We stand by the word of God as how to conduct our lives. Do not cower or be silenced by the loud and vocal minority of radical leftists. Their rights should not be superior to your rights. We are all afforded our rights by God, under our Constitution, equally.
In the name of “inclusion” of a tiny number of misfits and oddballs… leftist tyrants have ordered that “exclusion” of christianity is in order…
Leftists are antichristians…
If the Cathy familiy were muslim… There would be no problem. They’d be hailed as a wonderful family organization! What a crock…
I for one avoid places such as San Antonio when there is a general attitude that “my kind” are not wanted there. I’ve been to San Antonio and loved the city, despite the need for a lot of attention to bringing in new business. With the attitude that San Antonio has toward businesses owned by persons of Christian faith, I will certainly not chance visiting San Antonio for future vacations or business conventions as I have done in the past. If San Antonio does not like my kind; I won’t subject San Antonio to my kind.
It’s imperative that we patriots stand up to the left. Will they ever realize doing things like this only unite us? We need to fight them, not sit idly by and allow this to continue. They act like a bunch of spoiled brats, whining, crying and stomping their feet when they don’t get their way. Its our duty to our country and our freedom not to allow them to bully us, taunt us or belittle our beliefs.
You all are missing the main point. There are ten (10) people making decesions for a whole city. The citizens of San Antonio voted for them.
It’s time we not only take BACK our cities but also OUR COUNTRY. To me it says ” we don’t like your kind and don’t want you around.” WOW
It’s time the SanAntonio city counsel learns that the constitution states freedom of religion not freedom from religion!
It is “We the people” that can make choices for ourselves. Government, or what some people feel is gov’t, need to get out of private business and personal lives. It is not your place!
I have read the board that made that decision is in the process of reversing their ill thought conclusion..they like others who create this kind of ill gotten logic to discriminate by elitism need to be voted from their position, they disdain commonsense and show malice where none is due….
The city council has a fiduciary responsibility to the city of San Antonio, not a religious or political responsibility!
There is only 4% of the population that are identified as LGBT. This is purely political.
there needs to be a chic-fil-a day in san antonio! all people, especially conservatives, need to jam pack all chic-fil-a’s in san antonio, so all the restaurants can make a lot of money! ban starbucks! so the left is now afraid of restaurants? such a pity party they are!
This typical of the liberal-socialist left. Anyone that doesn’t agree with their one sided view is “eliminated”. I am shocked that any “board” in San Antonio, would have six narrow minded liberals on it. Same on the San Antonio voters for electing them.
It was ok for a Ku Klux Klan member to be a senator in the democratic party. He said he was no longer a member; his own quotes indicated his thinking hadn’t changed. But Ethel Merman and her “God Bless America” can not longer be accepted.
If people don’t start following God’s word and do the right thing, he will not put up with it much longer. That’s why all these bad things are happening. People have the right to be a conservative and worship God.
I’ve never felt strongly one way or another about the LGBT movement except I do think it’s an aberration and biblically condemned. But their attempt to make us accept them has turned me totally against them. If they knew what the Cathy family has done over many years for our youth and other endeavors they would understand that they live by scripture. Attempting to shove anything down my gullet makes me dig my heels in and dismiss whatever it may be. I used to agree with the live & let live attitude but seeing what is creeping into our society has changed that.
Do the council members who voted. against allowing the restaurant in the airport have a conscience or beliefs in freedom of religion other than “let’s get the Christians” since they do not believe as we do they get no rights. Forget the fact that our country is based on individual freedoms. I lived in San Antonio for a number of years, but I am happy to be elsewhere now. This sort of behavior makes me sad for the populace to be rrpresented by this kind of officials.
Being from Texas, although I do not live there now, this is the same city council whack jobs who would like to tear down the Alamo . The ex mayor who is big democrat circles now was a member of La Raza. A organization who wants Mexico to take back the southwest US . They should be feared and destroyed.
Then make the Muslims serve pork and serv3 gays too!
How is discrimination about a persons religion different from any other discrimination. The city council is blatantly discriminating and should lose any case. Why persist in spending tax dollars when they know it is unlawful to so. Politicians are more and more corrupt and irresponsible as a matter of course. They could feed and house some homeless with the wasted legal fees. I don’t understand where this nonsense is going.
Hey Texas thought you we the freedom loving state not like ny, cal. But it’s not looking good out here no way do you ever stop a job making co. Because of Religion it is the TOP FREEDOM better start looking at what you guys and who you are voting for your not getting decent Constitutional as Written American Loving officials you will end up like ny. cal. Guess will will have to start checking out who is moving to Texas and why to take it down like the democratics leftist socialist communist muslums are trying to do to America destroy the hole country we have to make sure they don’t but they are taking over some of the states so watch out
Go Texans!. Stand your ground and do not allow these Socislist Democrats to ruin your state with religous bias. Our Federal Judges and the LGBTQ created this mess and true Americans need to take a stand, especially the Christans and say “No More”. Christian’s need to vote and remove any Socialist leaning candidate in either party out or we may see more of the Cortez, Omar in all levels of government, school boards, and city councils like this one. Don’r back down..
Find a way to stop the Socialist’s from moving into Texas from – CA, NYC, Seattle, WA, etc!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe we should boycott San Antonio. There are plenty of vacation spots that welcome all people without question.
What is so inaugurating it that Government is trying to impose their beliefs on the general public! Last I read we still had a Constitution with Amendments that GUARANTEE freedom of religion! We ARE NOT asking for a “STATE” religion! We are only asking that the government not try and dictate what kinds of business can operate in their area. Doing hat IS IMPOSING a religion on ALL the people that live there!
This has got to be the most ignorant article I’ve read in a long time. I am a Christian and I am very proud of it. I am truly having a hard time putting up with businesses bowing down to every other religious entity. It was how our America was started. People need to believe in whatever they want and not fear. I thought religion and government were supposed to be seperate.
Think of the hypocrisy. Civil Rights laws would not permit a restaurant or a bus service to treat people differently based on race but this Texas city is denying a business a right to exist based on the owner’s ideas which are not overtly expressed. In D.C., our Capital, conservatives are refused restaurant service based on beliefs which are not apparent at the restaurant.
If one small minded restaurant owner does that it effects that patron and sends a message to the others present at the time. A municipality sends a powerful message their entire population. “Think like us or else.” In N. Y. governor Cuomo publicly stated a certain well known conservative has no place in N.Y. Intolerance, they name is Democrat.
The Alamo is in San Antonio,TX, and is a money maker for the city. I guess the “Remember the Alamo” has to be changed to “Forget the Alamo”! Go to the beach instead of the desert on your next vacation! Boycott San Antonio until they live by the U.S.Constitution. I love Chick-fil-A!!
The “FREE MARKET” can indeed decide this issue. I for one have pledged to support Chick-Fil-A by patronizing a restaurant at least once per week.
This fabulous company has it right and I applaud ALL they do.
As long as we are allowed to vote with our wallets and pocketbooks, chi fil a is going to be wildly successful. Their stores are mobbed… not at 12:15, but at 11:15, yet they have a system in place to move customers quickly. They also have the friendliest staff in the fast food industry. I also suspect they protect their franchisees by not having stores on every block. Ive been going there ever since the incident several yrs ago and plan to continue. The core of this story is the c mmunist movement testing its strength, but hordes of us are committing small acts of defiance by eating there.
Hmmmm, I don’t believe the Salvation Army asks about your sexual preferences before giving aid to those who need it. I Really don’t care if the Salvation Army is a Christian organization or not. I was a police officer for many years and have directed and/or taken people in need I found to the Salvation Army in 5 or 6 cities and have never known anyone being turned away. As far as Chick-fil-a is concerned, I don’t eat there because I am probably one in a hundred that just doesn’t like the food; but I may have to acquire a taste for it now. The far left has gone nuts. Personally I give to three charities every year. St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (in my late wife’s name, she loved the work they do for children and their families – and never ask for a dime from them, nor do they preach religion at them.) The Salvation Army, and a Fallen Police Officer’s fund to help spouses and children through a difficult time.
The left needs to wake up and take a look at themselves – seems to me they are the discriminators
I would like to know who the hell told these liberals they are god and they decide for everyone. Move out of the you idiots and let us live our lives the way we see fit.
It seems if a christian stands up for thier belief and morals its awlful. We have a right in this country for our religious freedom. We are to compromise our beliefs to accomodate things that are against our morals. Our country was formed ONE NATION UNDER GOD WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
I am disapponted that the wonderful state would be basis against anyone. We may not agree but that does not change your rights.
When you see the words alternative life style add “of Sin”. A womans right “to sin” abortion, etc. Sin by any other name is still sin! Homosexual “sin” , transgender sin, live with my “forever fiancee” still sin.
We are all sinners, everyone, but to not acknowledge it as sin and wrong is to defies God.
They claim we are discriminating. Against them. Aren’t they doing the same by suing a Christian for
Upholding their beliefs ????!!!
Clearly, those who claim to espouse tolerance and inclusion just cannot tolerate those who hold true to the Biblical plan for marriage and sexuality. The hypocrisy of the left is breathtaking in it’s scope and determination to spread their insidious, evil, liberal agenda. It amazes me still that we conservatives so rarely unite and show the same level of cohesiveness and organization to fight the left, as they obviously have when they assault our ethics and faith and values. This Republic in under direct attack by those who hate the very values that made the United States the great nation it is, and conservatives seemingly are too apathetic or distracted to notice or to take the time to organize any sort of response at all. This is troubling, and if not remedied, we’ll soon be wondering how we’ve lost any chance of turning things around.
Tale heed. Our constitution was written by white Christians for white Christians.
This is not unlike my workplace, where a pro-Trump or Christian remark could get you severely inconvenienced. On the other hand, hateful or violent remarks against Trump or Christianity are not only allowed, but celebrated.
Just crossed San Antonio off my travel list!
This is truly getting ridiculous. It’s hard to believe this crap ( and I mean crap) is happening in America! Disgusting
Sounds like Texas has a bunch of spineless non- Christian officials. Shame on you. Frain the swamp Texas
Very well written, FRC. Thank you for your terse and concise comments.
I can’t figure why the lbtqrxzy crowd picks on Christians, We don’t hate any of them They have a right to do what they will. However, Islam is the religion that kills homosexuals but you don’t hear communities discriminating against Islam businesses in their towns. It’s only Christians who are discriminated against. As for me, people can do what they please as long as their “rights” don’t take away the “rights'” of others However, Liberals want us to accept their behavior no matter how warped it is. If they want to take a chance on eternal life by going against the Bible, that’s their choice and they must bear the consequences, not I. If I speak against an idea, that doesn’t mean I will not allow others to believe it. It only means that I don’t believe it and I believe I have the right to say so. No one has to agree with me………
I have notified all of my professional & fraternal organizations I shall not be attending any Conference or Convention in San Antonio, TX if the City Council bans Chick-Fil-A.
This is another case like the ‘collusion’ B.S. and Trump. But the real aim is by the DNC’ommunist Party Putinistas who are trying to move the goal posts. They are raising hell over something they actually want, Communism! You do remember Bill’n’Billery’n’Odumer’n’Russia, right? They are heading toward Nazi’ism faster than those they are accusing of it. If a law can be passed on a local level that you are forced to believe a certain way, why can’t you pass a law leaning the opposite way! If this scam continues all over the country to undermine the Constitution you will get sued by someone everyday so they don’t have to work! If you don’t believe this just watch CAIR, SPLC, DNC, and the loons in San Antonio. Example in use today: Democrat politicians in Congress!