Is it true that McDonald's & Sonic have donated to Planned Parenthood?

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I don’t know what got Sonic on that list, but I suspect someone made a mistake. Sonic is an Oklahoma corporation based in OKC. OK is a very conservative state. Given their corporate policy of refusing to donate to health causes or political causes, what on Earth could they have done wrong? All of the Sonics I go to let kid’s groups like church programs and bands do fundraisers there as volunteer car hops, but that is the only thing I ever see connected with Sonic.
 
I heard back from the fightpp people earlier this week. I was glad to hear that REI has been removed from their boycott list.

As for Sonic, I find their evidence severely lacking. They included a “Summer 2005” newsletter from Planned Parenthood Mar Monte with a list of companies including Sonic that says “thank you” at the bottom. Because Sonic sells franchises to independent operators and this newsletter doesn’t explain HOW “Sonic Drive-In” has helped them (or whether the corporate office is even involved!), I’m concerned that the whole FightPP boycott list might hinge on such spurious “evidence”. Three words highlighted on a newsletter page doesn’t prove their point.

In a Google search for “planned parenthood” “mar monte” sonic I actually came across some Las Vegas data that tells of some Sonic franchisers who supported Pro-Life Congressman Dean Heller for re-election. city-data.com/elec2/06/elec-RENO-NV-06-part2.html

I’m thinking Sonic Drive-In franchisers can make individual decisions in their political contributions just like any other American.
 
MARYBEKAH said:
Hi folks,

A catholic co-worker of mine told me a few months ago that McDonald’s and Sonic have donated money to planned parenthood. At first, I was like ‘wow’. Then I started to wonder if it was even true. I have asked other catholics if this is true, but no one seems to know the answer. Finally, I was told that McDonalds is franchised/individually owned and operated, not corporate, so if planned parenthood is receiving money, it would have to be from individual restaurants…we have eaten there a few times since I heard this.

which brings me to my dilemma: on Saturday, me and my 2 young daughters had some time to kill, so we went to lunch at Mcdonalds. I didn’t really want to, but it’s the only place my kids will eat in the area we were in. The planned parenthood thing weighed on my mind the entire time, though, and by Saturday evening, I was feeling wretched. Like I had endorsed Planned Parenthood. But I don’t even know if Mcdonald’s has sponsored them. I fought with myself, and didn’t end up going to communion on Sunday because I felt like a dirty heathen. And I had used Planned Parenthood’s services a few years ago for birth control pills long before I had converted (I have confessed this). So by condemning McDonald’s for endorsing them, I feel like a hypocrite. I don’t want to continue endorsing such a cause, but at the same time, do not want to condemn a legitimate business if it’s all a nasty rumor.

Can someone tell me-has anyone heard of McDonald’s/Sonic endorsing Planned Parenthood, or any other Pro-choice cause?? If so, what should I do about the past times I have eaten there? I’m really struggling with this. Thanks. Oh, and for the record, I’m pro-life.
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All I have to say is GO MCDONALDS and SONIC!!! I think after avoiding eating fast food over the past 10 years its time for me to get back in the game to help support a good cause.😃 I’m hungry for a double cheeseburger now!
 
If you visit Life Decisions International’s website, you can order a boycott list that tells you who gives to Planned Parenthood. But on their main page they have a list of about 10 different business and Sonic is on that list!!! I was so sad, because my kids love Sonic and it’s the easiest place for the teenagers to walk to after school. I can’t bring myself to go anymore and am thinking about trying to get a boycott letter together to be signed. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?
 
Well yes, I just did express my thoughts about this in my last post. LDI is the same people as FightPP. I had them send me their evidence and it’s one word highlighted on a page. Sonic franchises out its restaurants and individual franchisers may then donate money to whatever cause they see fit. LDI’s evidence is not enough, in my opinion, to boycott Sonic, especially given that Sonic’s corporate guidelines would seem to prohibit their donating money to an organization like PP. I think LDI needs to be put under a microscope.

I haven’t eaten at Sonic in over a year, but given my conclusion, I should probably feel free to eat there now.
 
In Canada; McDonalds Restaurants and their employees donate money to the United Way charity organization which is strongly known to actively support Pro-Choice endeavors.
Almost a decade ago the Vatican annually supported the United Way internationally until our former Pope John Paul II put a stop to forking out nearly a half a million a year after the Church investigated United Way’s charity distribution.

Sonic restaurants only do business in Montreal, Toronto, and major cities in Western Canada so I am not aware of their charity distribution endeavors.
But I do appreciate the heads up. As an avid supporter of Pro-Life I do not patronage any business that supports a woman’s right to abortion.
 
I have had a problem with this as well. I know that Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Pizza Hut are all owned by Pepsi, which was on the Boycott list. Last time I checked they were on the list.

Coca Cola was also on the boycott list when I checked. If Pepsi and Coke are both still on the boycott list, then this means that I can’t drink soda from two of the main soda companies…I’m not sure where 7-Up stands.

I have heard that Wendy’s is a pro-life company. Does anyone know if this is true? I know that Dave Thomas was adopted (and Wendy’s obviously supports the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption).

However, Wendy’s sells Coke products (as most fast-food restaurants sell either Pepsi or Coke products.)

I would really like to see a list of major pro-life companies (or at least companies that are neutral or safe for pro-lifers to buy from). Does anyone know of such a list?
 
I’m sorry, but Rocky8311’s comments are riddled with misinformation. I’ve supported Life Decisions International (fightpp) for more than a decade and your “questioning” of their “motives” is absurd. Check out their website which explains their policy regarding franchises, why economic boycotts are morally right and how they have been successful. (Rocky8311 is woefully ignorant of the practice.) They also have a section saying what’s wrong with Planned Parenthood.

So far more than 215 corporations have stopped funding Planned Parenthood, which has amounted to more than $40 million. You may disagree with LDI’s policies and standards if you choose, but I am willing to yield to those who have 15 years of experience running this highly successful project.

People who erroneously disparage their brethren only serve those who think the killing of preborn children is acceptable. Check out LDI’s website. Their reasoning is clear, understandable and I support it.

And stop the unfounded accusations. Questioning of motives without proof is ungodly–period. If you want to support corporations that donate to pro-abortion groups, do so without trying to harm those who realize that doing so is wrong.

Furthermore, donating to a “pro-life” lawmaker does not excuse donating to the world’s most proficient killing machine.

By the way, McDonald’s does not fund Planned Parenthood. Sonic does support Planned Parenthood. Taco Bell, Pizza Hut & KFC have never been on The Boycott List and they have not been owned by PepiCo for many years. Coca-Cola has never been on The Boycott List. And LDI has never tracked donations to Planned Parenthood made through matching gift programs. Stop the rumors and attacks.

Virtually every pro-life/pro-family national group in North America has endorsed LDI’s Boycott List and several of their board members are well-known pro-life leaders. If you have a question, send LDI an email. They are the recognized experts and very open about their policies, standards and sources.

Mike Lane
 
Calm down, Mike. There’s room for discussion here. Just use your words. I’ll go over my story again: friends of mine have expressed doubt about Sonic HQ itself has funded Planned Parenthood, given that Sonic franchises out restaurants to individuals. I investigated Sonic’s website for myself and found that according to Sonic’s corporate giving webpage, Sonic doesn’t consider gifts to organizations with these characteristics (abridged list) [1]:
  • Organizations outside the state of Oklahoma
  • Private foundations
  • Health-related organizations
  • **Special interest groups **such as labor and veterans’ organizations
This list appears to preclude Planned Parenthood, if you ask me. The burden of proof is on the ACCUSER, which is LDI. When I emailed LDI about my doubts, a “volunteer” emailed me back, saying “We’ll be glad to send you the evidence of Sonic donating to PP.”

What they sent back was a xeroxed newsletter page from Planned Parenthood’s “Mar Monte” region, which I have found to include part of California and part of Nevada. [2] One part of the US. The newsletter page has a list of companies they are thinking. My copy had Sonic Drive-In highlighted. Given that Sonic is based in Oklahoma and its individual locations are franchises, and given Sonic HQ’s statements about community giving, I can only guess that an individual franchise owner or owners in PP’s Mar Monte region have donated to PP.

LDI gave me no proof that any franchisers in Texas (where I live) or any other part of the US donate to PP. LDI is the accuser, they didn’t make their case. Even given that, I’ve eaten at Sonic only once in the months since this. Despite the fact that LDI failed to make their case to me, I still have a doubt.

I will pledge this to you, Michael. I will contact Sonic’s corporate office and I will contact LDI again. Don’t dare say I’ve acted out of ignorance. I have already very scrupulously pursued this with online research that has turned up nothing to confirm LDI’s claims. I freely choose to pursue it even further and I have no need to.

[1] sonicdrivein.com/business/giving/corporate.jsp
[2] plannedparenthood.org/mar-monte/
 
Michael, according to LDI:

“All we can say is, ‘So what?’” responded Scott. “It does not matter if the money going to Planned Parenthood comes from the corporate headquarters or a local store. The point is that it is coming from Whole Foods Market, along with the company’s “stamp of approval” for the pro-abortion group.” [1]

Please direct me to LDI’s reasoning for why they think this is. I don’t think I’m approaching corporate entities with the same preconceptions as LDI is. I consider the individual store, franchise, or employee who donates to PP to be the villain, not the corporate office, in cases where the corporate office does not donate.

Don’t forget that LDI is the accuser and needs to make their case when asked. I boycott all the companies on their list except Sonic. In the case of Sonic, I consider them innocent until proven guilty.

"Whole Foods Market has been encouraging pro-life advocates to contact their local stores to determine if they support Planned Parenthood. If every boycott target could convince pro-life activists to do such a thing, the impact on the pro-life cause would be devastating. " [2]

WHY? This begs and screams for an explanation. What does LDI think the pro-life cause hinges on? Show me LDI’s explanation. I’ve looked and I’m not seeing one.

I’m sorry that I don’t just take it as an article of faith that I should follow LDI’s lead in each and every case. But you can help them make their case. Discussion is healthy.

[1]http://www.fightpp.org/show.cfm?page=press&action=display&ID=142
[2] Ibid.
 
Dear Michael,

Listen, I’m sorry if you think I’ve maligned LDI. Their website is difficult to plumb for information about their practices/standards. My natural impulse is to challenge secrecy. I think you should concede that it’s difficult to find their policy on companies that have franchises. You would have done me a service to cite the web address of their policy. I’m looking and I’m still not sure I’ve found it, although I’ve found a press release that alludes to it.
 
I’ve just finished reading one explanation of LDI’s policies: fightpp.org/show.cfm?page=economic
LDI:
It is unfair to boycott an entire corporation when only one of its subsidiaries is supporting a pro-abortion group.

Corporations may attempt to avoid the impact of a boycott by blaming the strongest subsidiary for the evil it does. The truth is that the corporate structure makes all subsidiaries part of the same entity. If any part of the corporation is funding Planned Parenthood, all of it must be boycotted. Corporate leaders at the very top cannot be allowed to plead ignorance or powerlessness over the grants made by their subsidiaries
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I don’t yet buy this rationale when it comes to Sonic.
 
michaeldowntown said:
By the way, McDonald’s does not fund Planned Parenthood. Sonic does support Planned Parenthood. Taco Bell, Pizza Hut & KFC have never been on The Boycott List and they have not been owned by PepiCo for many years. Coca-Cola has never been on The Boycott List. And LDI has never tracked donations to Planned Parenthood made through matching gift programs. Stop the rumors and attacks.

Mike, I thought that McDonalds, Pepsi, and Coke were both on the list last time I checked. Also, I have not heard that Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut are no longer owned by Pepsi (you are the first person I heard that from.) Have they been taken off the list? Are they safe to buy from?
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Will8503 said:
Also, I have not heard that Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut are no longer owned by Pepsi (you are the first person I heard that from.)
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They are owned by Yum!, which is the result of a spin-off from Pepsi 12 years ago. Pepsi does not own them anymore.
 
Here is a story about Mc Donalds and Planned Parnet hood:
OHIO, Aug 24 (LSN.ca) - “Planned Parenthood in Akron, Ohio, is using McDonald’s gift certificates as an incentive to promote condom use,” reports American Life League. The anti-Planned Parenthood organization, STOPP, has asked McDonald’s to publicly demand an end to the practice, but, according to STOPP, “A senior manager responded, saying, ‘we have no plans to release a statement because this has nothing to do with McDonald’s’.”

“Silence implies consent,” insists STOPP, which fears that the gimmick may spread to other regions. The pro-life group is asking concerned citizens to contact Jack Greenberg, President of McDonald’s Corp.

From all the stuff I’ve read on this regarding Mc D’s - if they are supporting PParenthood then they do it in a secondary nature - sometimes going through another way. I don’t think they want to try to shout it (if they have done alot of it) - but much of what I found seemed to be more from the 80’s than now.
 
Well now. Pete is beginning to question the motivations" of LDI, which implies they are doing something sinister, but at the same time he uses LDI’s list for other companies that fund Planned Parenthood.

Hmmm. I just did a crazy, radical thing. I contacted LDI and asked their director to call me, which he did. I now understand and totally support LDI’s standards and reasons. I will now stop eating at Sonic. In fact, I will become an LDI member so I don’t have to rely on rumor and the uninformed for information because I care where my money goes.

Maybe Pete should do the same radical thing I did instead of trashing a good organization just because he disagrees about one thing. I told LDI that not all Catholics feel as Pete does and we all most certainly don’t respond in the same destructive way. It in not LDI’s motivation I am beginning to question!

BTW: I asked LDI about Pepsi, McDonald’s, etc. and Mike was right. They have never been on LDI’s list and all are OK to do business with. (Maybe it was not LDI’s list someone was looking at?) YUM! Brands owns Taco Bell, etc., and they are OK too.

Tiffany Marks
 
Michael/Tiffany, you’re very belligerent for a “new member.” I don’t know why you consider it so harmful to question motivation. I personally don’t consider it that insulting or harmful, given that if a person or an organization has good intentions, their reputation can only improve upon investigation. Just relax! Can I just say that I don’t feel like they have bad motives?

I contacted LDI by email and was glad to get their reply. What they want to see out of Sonic is some action to correct the errant franchisees who have donated under the Sonic name. I guess I can understand that. It sounds like there’s very little Sonic needs to do to get off the boycott list. I can understand why they haven’t been removed from LDI’s list after four years; LDI is unaware of any action on Sonic’s part to make sure that the “Sonic Drive-Ins” name doesn’t appear on any PP newsletter as a donor. LDI can only act on what they are aware of and Sonic didn’t give them the time of day.

The reason I’ll follow LDI’s list in general is that most businesses on it aren’t organized in the franchise structure of Sonic. It’s annoying that it has taken so much digging to come to a better understanding of LDI. I’ve drafted a letter to Sonic and I need to go ahead and send it. I’ll resume my boycott until I’m satisfied with their response.
 
Matrix_Refugee said:
The problem is, boycotts usually hurt the wrong people, ie. the counter clerks, cooks, etc. working in the actual shops, etc. and who most likely have families to support.
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I agree. Boycotting your local McDonald’s just means that it is more likely the folks from your neighborhood that work there will lose their jobs. It’s not going to hurt the corporation one bit, they’re just too big to be damaged.
 
It’s not true that companies are too big to be hurt. LDI and others’ boycotts have resulted in many companies changing their policies. I know of know evidence that any store has ever closed due to a pro-life boycott. Do you have any specific examples?
 
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