Kenney tells Chick-fil-A president to take a hike
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Kenney tells Chick-fil-A president to take a hike
Jan Ransom
Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy’s recent comments about gay marriage has caused quite a stir across the country and has City Councilman Jim Kenney fired-up.
Last week during a radio show Cathy said, "I think we are 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,'" Cathy said. "I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about."
Cathy later said that he is supportive of the "biblical definition of the family unit."
"It is with profound disillusionment and a sense of deep sadness that I write this letter in response to your recent comments. Last week you expressed support for denying gay Americans the prized right of marriage that heterosexual couples in this country so freely take for granted."
"As an American you are legally entitled to your opinion, regardless of how insensitive and intolerant it may be, but as a fellow American and an elected member of Philadelphia City Council; I am entitled to express my opinion as well. So please – take a hike and take your intolerance with you. There is no place for this type of hate in our great City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection."
And when City Council returns in September, Kenney said he will introduce a resolution condemning Cathy and the company. Check out the rest of Kenney’s letter here.
I kind of think there's more pride and arrogance in saying God is opposed to gay marriage than asking that gays have the right of civil marriage.— stevestevestevesteve- Why? It's his belief. He's not telling you that you can't choose the homosexual lifestyle. He's just saying that it does not follow biblical principles. He's a Christian. The institute of marriage is a biblical practice. If he were Muslim would you argue that it's prideful to have he 4 or 5 wives and a number of separate families under one roof? Why is someone "prideful" or "arrogant" for standing up for what they believe? — ptahan
- What else do you expect him to say? The place is called CHICK fil-a, not GAY DUDE boney chicken. It's very demeaning to women and rather misogynist when you think of it. This dude is very Christian, even closes the stores on Sunday. He definitely walks the walk, you got to hand that to him. It's very homophobic to sell CHICKen with NO BONES. LOL...think about it, it's a hoot.
- Last I heard gay marriage is still illegal in Philadelphia. So why is Kenney picking on this guy? — UncleJoe
- hahahaha....does anybody take anythign Jim Kenney says seriously?? For real?? Go away, Jim. Forever.
I give Dan Cathy credit...he is true to his beliefs and has put his money where is mouth is by closing his OVERWHELMINGLY successful business on Sundays. Unlike Kenney, who well just always puts his mouth where his mouth is...and has contributed nothing to society or created anything in life.
I guess this means in the "progressive" utopian society which is Philadelphia, City Council will now attempt to initiate a Chick Fil A tax of 10% added to all business done at Chick Fil A, huh???
— kelprod2 - Dan Cathy is not true to his beliefs. He, and others like him, liberally pick and choose portions of the Bible that they follow and disregard other portions which they do not. — PhillyPatriot
- I have noticed that so called family values bible living Christians ALWAYS seem to follow ONLY the parts of eh bible that supports their particular prejudices. Misogyny and Homophobia seem to be the only sections they want to follow themselves and also want to force others to follow. They all eat shrimp, wear cotton/poly blends, don't stone people whoo do business on Saturdays (the real sabbath) etc etc etc. — dwilliamsamh
- "True to his beliefs"?? Haha, yeah let's credit a bigot for sticking to his guns.
Dan Cathy can keep his big book of fairy tales. The rest of us will actually exercise compassion for other human beings while he and his fellow Christians do what they do best.— ew8 - That's laughable. Does Jim Kenney think Chick Fil A's president will even read that stupid letter? A city council resolution condeming Chick Fil A when council comes back from a 3 month vacation? Now THAT'S laughable!! Stick to city business, Councilman. Chick's stance on marriage has nothing to do with Philadelphia's City council. THank you!— Chr
- What a stupid flap. Who cares what Chik-fil-a thinks? This is just avenue for self promotion for people like Kenney. It shows his lack of depth.
I am fine with gay marriage, but I still might go out of my way to eat a Chik-Fil-a to support freedom of speech.— LGbalsac - More reason for term limits in city council.— anti-tax
- This comment has been deleted.— GREEKPICNIC
- Right. The murder rate is through the roof, fire stations are closing, the tax base, what's left of it, is about to be taxed into oblivion, and Kenney thinks this is worth worrying about. — Sanchez
- I agree. He should be more worried that his resolution, should it be adopted, would increase the number of unemployed Philadelphians. How irresponsible. — JayDay
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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com
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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans. E-mail tips to ransomj@phillynews.com
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Sean Collins Walsh is from Bucks County and went to Northwestern University. He joined the Daily News copy desk in 2012 and now covers the Nutter administration. Before that, he interned at papers including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Seattle Times. E-mail tips to walshSE@phillynews.com
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