The fast food chicken restaurant chain Chick-fil-A caused controversy today after its president, Dan Cathy, openly opposed gay marriage, the LA Times is reporting. After the controversy arose over the restaurant’s stance, it released a statement, saying that “going forward, our intent is to leave the policy debate over same-sex marriage to the government.”

Chick-fil-A spokesman Don Perry released a statement via email, saying that leaving the policy debate means “not proactively being engaged in the dialogue” on gay marriage. Perry didn’t comment whether or not the restaurant would continuing donating to causes that oppose gay marriage.”

The chain restaurant has also won acclaim after Cathy expressed his opposition, and told the Baptist Press that Chick-fil-A was “guilty as charged” in supporting the “biblical definition of the family unit.” He added “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives.”

Chick-fil-A has been accused before of supporting an anti-gay agenda with donations. The restaurant has denied those claims, however. But Cathy’s father, S. Truett Cathy, who founded the restaurant, opened the chain with biblically-based principals.

The company believes in operating debt-free and devoting a percentage of its profits back to the communities. Cathy’s opposition comes after Chick-fil-A said its practice is to treat everyone with honor, dignity and respect, regardless of their beliefs and sexual orientation.

Written by: Karen Benardello