Over at Get Religion.org, editor Terry Mattingly has suggested that the current controversy over comments made by Chick-Fil-A President Dan Cathy about the “traditional family” was an example of the media distorting a religious person’s words. Mattingly says members of the media went too far interpreting this part of the interview as a criticism of gay marriage:
Some have opposed the company’s support of the traditional family. “Well, guilty as charged,” said Cathy when asked about the company’s position. “We are very much supportive of the family—the biblical definition of the family unit…”
Oh, come on. Talking about the “biblical definition of the family unit” in today’s political climate means preventing same-sex couples from getting married, whether or not the words “gay marriage” are used—especially given criticism of Chick-Fil-A by gay-rights advocates for the millions of dollars the company has given to anti-gay organizations like the Family Research Council. Cathy’s intent would have been plenty clear even if he didn’t expound to an Atlanta radio station:
“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,’” said Cathy.
“I pray God’s mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we would have the audacity to try to redefine what marriage is all about,” he added.
Mattingly is splitting hairs mighty thin, unless he really thinks Cathy was talking about his company’s support for polygamy, wives as war trophies, and other biblical notions of marriage recently discussed by Jay Michaelson.
