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(CNSNews.com) -- The number three fast-food chain in the United States, Chick-fil-A, which prides itself on being founded on biblical principles, donated $2,500 to the left-wing Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The SPLC maintains a "hate map" on its website and its listing of the Family Research Council (FRC) as an "anti-LGBT" hate group was cited by domestic terrorist Floyd Corkins in his FBI interview after he shot-up the FRC in August 2012.

"Tax reports have now exposed Chick-fil-A for funding the anti-Christian Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization linked in federal court to domestic terrorism after their smear campaign of Christian organizations resulted in a shooting in which the gunman planned to smear Chick-fil-A sandwiches in the faces of his victims," said FRC President Tony Perkins in a statement released today.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. (FRC)

In the court document, United States vs. Floyd Lee Corkins (p. 18), it states, "He [Corkins] committed the shooting for political reasons. He identified the FRC as an anti-gay organization on the Southern Poverty Law Center website."

Perkins continued, "Not only has Chick-fil-A abandoned donations to Christian groups, including the Salvation Army, it has donated to one of the most extreme anti-Christian groups in America."





"Anyone who opposes the SPLC, including many Protestants, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and traditional conservatives, is slandered and slapped with the 'extremist' label or even worse, their 'hate group' designation," said Perkins. "At one point, the SPLC even added Dr. Ben Carson to its 'extremist' list because of his biblical views (and only took him off the list after public outcry)."

"Seven years ago, a shooter entered our building with the intent to murder as many people as possible and smear a Chick-fil-A sandwich in their faces," said the FRC president. "The gunman was enraged by the nationwide Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day held two weeks before and used the SPLC's 'hate map' to identify FRC as his target."

"Despite being seriously wounded, the FRC building manager, Leo Johnson, heroically stopped the gunman," said Perkins. "Dan Cathy, nor anyone with Chick-fil-A, inquired about the well-being of Mr. Johnson or any of the FRC team members, but they made a donation to the SPLC which was linked in federal court to this act of domestic terrorism."

"Chick-fil-A has seriously lost their way," said the FRC president. "It's time for Christians to find a fast-food alternative to Chick-fil-A."

After Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy said in 2012 that the company operated on "biblical principles," the franchise was targeted by LGBTQ activists for donating money, through its charitable arm, to organizations that defended biblical principles, including support for marriage between one man and one woman.

Chick-fil-A CEO Dan Cathy. (Getty Images)

As a result, Bible-believing Christians nationwide and their allies defended Chick-fil-A, shopped at its restaurants, and even organized a Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day.

The boycotts and protests by LGBTQ activists have continued, even though Chick-fil-A has experienced tremendous support from Christian Americans. The company's sales more than doubled between 2012 and 2018, from $4.6 billion to $10.46 billion. Also, the franchise opened more than 700 new restaurants.

However, on Nov. 18, 2019, Chick-fil-A announced that it would no longer make donations to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Salvation Army, both of which support traditional marriage.

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Then, on Nov. 26, a Townhall.com report by Ryan Bomberger showed that the Chick-fil-A Foundation had donated $2,500 to the SPLC in 2017.

Bomberger also reported, "It just so happens that the same three groups targeted for years by LGBT organizations as anti-LGBT 'hate groups' just happened to be the same ones that would no longer be funded: The Salvation Army, Paul Anderson Youth Home and Fellowship of Christian Athletes."

Townhall.com further noted that Chick-fil-A has made donations to the pro-abortion group The Pace Center for Girls; the pro-LGBTQ YWCA; the pro-LGBT child welfare service Chris 180; and the left-wing New Leaders Council.

In explaining Chick-fil-A's charitable donations, Rodney Bullard, vice president of corporate responsibility, said, “We don't want our intent and our work to be encumbered by someone else's politics or cultural war. If something gets in the way of our mission, that is something that we are mindful of and cognizant of.”



