CHICK FIL-A APPRECIATION DAY AND THE BATTLE OVER TRADITIONAL AND GAY MARRIAGE............

Dan Cathy, the founder / owner of the popular Chick fil-A chicken sandwich restaurants across the United States, a traditional Christian and social conservative, whose values and religious beliefs are so closely and devoutly held, that the restaurant franchises are closed on Sundays; gave interviews just over two weeks ago, that created such a stir, that on Wednesday led to what former Arkansas Governor. Republican Presidential candidate, and FOX News commentator/talk show host, Mike Huckabee declared to be, "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day".  Dan Cathy's comments about his belief in the righteousness of traditional marriage between one man and one woman, and vehement denunciation of same sex, gay marriage, set off a firestorm that rallied loyal supporters and unbridled vociferous opposition that included critical announcements from two major city mayors, denouncing his statements.  American freedom, personal moral values and religious beliefs, again have found themselves interwined and conflicted with partisan politics, cultural preferences and personal lifestyle choices.  As has been true for much of the past two decades in our country, the United States is now very much a fifty-fifty nation on such contentious, touchstone, issues.  Dan Cathy's right to freely hold and state his beliefs and practice the values he and his fellow believers adhere to, is assured; but agree or disagree with him, so is does that freedom allow those who hold the much different view and practice, to oppose and speak out against it.  The constitutional assurance to  Free Speech for all Americans permits every side of any issue to be heard.  Thus Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, have the opportunity to speak out against Dan Cathy's views, even while the extent to which they oppose his words and values, saying they would fight Chick-fil-A franchises from coming to their cities their is serious right to question.  That is also true of former Governor Mike Huckabee, former Senator Rick Santorum, Representative Michelle Bachman, and others on Wednesday who Facebooked and Tweeted their support for Dan Cathy and Chick-fil-A, and posted pictures of themselves eating one of its chicken sandwiches and waffle fries; just as tens of thousands loyally lined up for long waits to do the same on Wednesday.  All of this undergirds the potency of the clash caused by the cultural conflict continuing to unfold and play out between traditional values adherents and equal rights proponents on the issue of allowing for hetrosexual marriage only, or extending the right to marriage to same sex couples.  The past two weeks has shown again - that in addition to representing moral values, religious beliefs, and personal practices, - political differences and calculations, are also potent components of the American equation of Marriage............Fr.  Troy