Don't penalise a Christian business
Keep Chick-Fil-A open!
Keep Chick-Fil-A open!
The UK’s first Chick-Fil-A restaurant is being forced to close after it has been open less than a week thanks to aggressive protests from the LGBT lobby.
This is not because of any wrongdoing on behalf of Chick-Fil-A, but simply because Chick Fil-A are a Christian business whose US owners do not support same-sex marriage and who refuse to donate to pro-LGBT causes, instead choosing organisations which promote Christian sexual ethics and values.
This is an attack on religious freedom. Chick-Fil-A are not in breach of any UK employment laws and do not discriminate against any of their customers therefore there is no good reason why this popular restaurant cannot be allowed to remain open.
As a company who are guided by Christian ethics, Chick-Fil-A pay their staff above market rates, offer enhanced employee Terms and Conditions and close on a Sunday to give all staff a day with their families and friends.
It is not the role of a commercial landlord to police the corporate values or religious beliefs of their tenants. No company is compelled to engage in any type of philanthropic activity and it is entirely up to individuals and corporations to decide which organisations best reflect their values.
Have the management at the Reading Oracle taken similar steps when it comes to policing the ethics of all of the retailers who rent units in the mall? What do they have to say about the ethics of one of their joint owners, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, who work on behalf of the government in that country, where homosexuality is illegal?
The charitable foundation set up by Chick-Fil-A does extremely worthwhile work to help with economic mobility of young people by focusing on homeless and poverty, education and community revitalisation, yet because they have no political or social agenda and do not celebrate LGBTQ ideology, activists have branded them hateful and wish to shut Chick-fil-A down.
Chick Fil-A are doing nothing illegal or immoral. We should not allow the aggressive LGBT lobby to prevent a company from being able to run a business simply because they are Christian. To do so runs contrary to the UK’s values of freedom and tolerance.
Sign the petition to the management at the Oracle Reading asking them to allow this popular chain to remain open.
More Information
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-50108255
https://www.chick-fil-afoundation.org
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Let Chick-Fil-A stay open
Dear Mr Briggs
I am writing to you in your capacity as General Manager of the Oracle Centre in Reading about your decision not to extend the lease of the newly opened ChikFilA restaurant beyond the initial six month lease period.
This decision has come about purely because of protests from the LGBT lobby who disagree with the Christian ethics of Chick-Fil-A’s parent company in the US and their corresponding decisions about corporate giving.
It is not the role of a commercial landlord to police the religious values of their tenants. Many of the outlets in the Oracle Centre engage in ethical practices which many might find unacceptable - have you, for example, checked the provenance of the diamonds on sale in the jewellery stores, or ensured that none of the clothes sold in any of your outlets have not been produced by exploited labourers?
This decision seems inconsistent in the light of the fact that Reading Oracle is jointly owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a country which has draconian punishments for anyone identifying as LGBT.
Have you considered the wider economic and environmental impact of unnecessarily closing this restaurant? Reading Chik Fil A employs over 34 people from the local area who now stand to lose their jobs thanks to this politically motivated decision?
Chick-fil-A is in full compliance with UK employment laws and does not discriminate against any of their customers therefore to close this restaurant would constitute unjust discrimination. In its first week of trading Chick-fil-A has already drawn customers from all over the country to the Oracle Centre.
I urge you to reconsider your decision and allow Chick-fil-A to remain open.
Yours sincerely
Let Chick-Fil-A stay open
Dear Mr Briggs
I am writing to you in your capacity as General Manager of the Oracle Centre in Reading about your decision not to extend the lease of the newly opened ChikFilA restaurant beyond the initial six month lease period.
This decision has come about purely because of protests from the LGBT lobby who disagree with the Christian ethics of Chick-Fil-A’s parent company in the US and their corresponding decisions about corporate giving.
It is not the role of a commercial landlord to police the religious values of their tenants. Many of the outlets in the Oracle Centre engage in ethical practices which many might find unacceptable - have you, for example, checked the provenance of the diamonds on sale in the jewellery stores, or ensured that none of the clothes sold in any of your outlets have not been produced by exploited labourers?
This decision seems inconsistent in the light of the fact that Reading Oracle is jointly owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a country which has draconian punishments for anyone identifying as LGBT.
Have you considered the wider economic and environmental impact of unnecessarily closing this restaurant? Reading Chik Fil A employs over 34 people from the local area who now stand to lose their jobs thanks to this politically motivated decision?
Chick-fil-A is in full compliance with UK employment laws and does not discriminate against any of their customers therefore to close this restaurant would constitute unjust discrimination. In its first week of trading Chick-fil-A has already drawn customers from all over the country to the Oracle Centre.
I urge you to reconsider your decision and allow Chick-fil-A to remain open.
Yours sincerely
