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

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MARYBEKAH

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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.
 
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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1 Corinthians 8 addresses the question of eating food sacrificed to idols, which I think is relevant to this situation.

Also, something to consider, the U.S. government supports abortion both here and abroad now. Can you stop paying your taxes because of this? Jesus said to render unto Caesar. Although the analogy is a little loose, I don’t think your conscience should be hurt, especially if you are not totally sure if the accusation is true, and if it is true, if it is true of the particular restaurant at which you’re eating.
 
It doesn’t look like it but…you could always read through things like this…

aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/investors.html

crmcdonalds.com/publish/csr/home/report/community/support_of_rmhc.html

They have downloadable reports and such on their site that you could probably check into.

I just typed McDonalds Corporation into a search engine and came up with those, you could do the same for Sonic.

Hopefully someone will know more information, but it would be a good idea to check these sites out everyonce in awhile I suppose to keep up to date.

I read one time on the EWTN Q. and A. when someone posed that question to Judie Brown a few years ago that she didn’t think they were at this time.

They probably do at times and then don’t at times, I would imagine it depends on who is heading up those departments and who is watching over them. It would be a good idea for everyone to know this and then we could make conscious, informed decisions about where are monies are actually going to. It looks like it takes and enormous amount of time and talent to garner all that information and then it could change.
 
If I check it out and don’t find any dirt on these places, would you say it’s OK to eat there?
 
If we stopped eating or doing business with every organization that donates to Planned Parenthood or the like we’d probably go hungry or be unable to purchase goods.
The businesses that are really offending might be avoided or we could write letters explaining our boycott.
I do believe in standing up for things but it gets complicated in the business world.
Right now we go to Hardees because I’ve heard other things about McDonalds I’ve not been real happy with.For all I know Hardees might be just as bad.🤷 Hope not-they have great burgers!🙂
 
wow, you’re right allhers…an enormous amount of time and effort. I started reading through one of the websites you gave, and it’s all legal/stock market jargon. And I’m not very business savvy…so far, I haven’t seen anything that indicates they endorse such causes, but I’ll keep looking.
 
Realistically, every major corporation has probably given money to an objectionable cause at some point or another, either out of ideological support or just because they give a lot of money to various causes.
 
I think what your co-worker was referring to was a boycott last year when one of the CEO’s was going to do a campaign with the gay lobby or else he was going to join their board and it caused a major uproar. People boycotted the restaurant and the CEO withdrew his offer.

I have not seen them on a boycott list from Life Decisions International(list companies who donate to PP) and they are pretty accurate in listing these kind of corporations.

As all other poster have said, it would be difficult as many companies do give money but I do selectively shop and if a company is on the Human Rights Campaign (gay lobby) or a known boycott list then I avoid it as best I can.

The first rule: When you boycott a company you need to make that phone call and tell them why.

I did avoid McDonald’s last year but since the boycott was stopped when the CEO complied, I again go there.
 
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.
 
I think that, regardless of whether Sonic and McDonald’s have donated to Planned Parenthood, there is no reason to boycott them. Think of it like this, would you feel compelled to fire someone who you employed because they donated to Planned Parenthood?
 
Boycotts are very important. First you have to telephone the company and tell them why you are boycotting. Then you have keep informed because companies do relent and change their policies so therefore the boycott is ended.

Boycotts have been very helpful in defunding Planned Parenthood so please do boycott as it is very effective and as Christians we are called to sacrifice.
 
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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And that is a problem because…

…I am drawing a blank.
 
How do we find out what REASON Sonic is on the fightpp boycott list? For instance, another thread on this forum reveals that Starbucks has been on such lists for matching employee donations to PP. However, they allegedly also match employee donations to pro-life causes.

Do we know whether Sonic corporate is donating to Planned Parenthood? Because if it is, then it doesn’t matter that Sonic has franchises; the franchise fees and other expenses paid to corporate would go in part to Planned Parenthood. Arg!

I’ve been boycotting Sonic for a year and haven’t worked up the guts to call them.
 
From Sonic’s corporate giving webpage: sonicdrivein.com/business/giving/corporate.jsp

While SONIC values all who are engaged in volunteerism and quality-of-life issues across the United States, we are unfortunately not able to fund all requests. SONIC does not consider cash gifts to:
  • Organizations outside the state of Oklahoma
  • Individuals
  • Private preschool, primary and secondary educational institutions
  • Dinners, luncheons or other forms of indirect support
  • Private foundations
  • Sporting events, including golf tournaments
  • Health-related organizations
  • Political parties or candidates
  • Sectarian, denominational or religious causes/organizations/events
  • **Special interest groups **such as labor and veterans’ organizations
So…how did Sonic get on the fightpp list?
 
rpp said:
And that is a problem because…

…I am drawing a blank.
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I agree. The competition will become stronger, which may even open up more jobs there. I am, however, beginning to question the motivations of Life Decisions International, who published the boycott list. They provide no proof! They ask that you trust that they have incontrovertible proof…but it’s invisible.
 
Too bad In-N-Out isn’t nationwide. It’s a privately owned and operated fast food restaurant chain in the Western United States

In-N-Out prints discreet references to Bible verses on their cups and burger wrappers. Their restaurants are closed on Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter. I highly doubt that the Snyder family, who owns the business, donates to Planned Parenthood. They’re the only fast food chain that I patronize (though rarely, burgers aren’t healthy!)
 
I contacted LDI and they invited me to send them an SASE and they’ll send me the proof I’m looking for that Sonic contributes to PP.
 
Lujack said:
Realistically, every major corporation has probably given money to an objectionable cause at some point or another, either out of ideological support or just because they give a lot of money to various causes.
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Check out the Ronald McDonald House CharitIES. The fund supports the houses that people live in while their kids are sick, but the money collected in that name also supports race-based charities.

There are scholarships that are given only to students of certain races.

IMO, that is not true charity. That would be like the Catholic Church giving only to people who are Catholic.

Human need is human need. Race or ethnicity should have nothing to do with it.

"NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – Farmington High School Senior Taylor Escajeca said she got a big surprise when she went to the principal’s office Friday when Ronald McDonald awarded her a $5,000 scholarship from the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“It’s a huge help to my family,” said Escajeca. “My mom works two jobs. My dad works constantly, so anything I can do to try to support myself for college is helpful.”

Escajeca was chosen from more than 800 applicants for the scholarship, which targets students with at least one parent of Hispanic origin, according to application rules. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of academic achievement, community involvement and financial need."

They forgot to add that the scholarship is also awarded on the basis of race/ethnicity. Why did they leave that out of the list in the last sentence? Don’t they realize what they’re doing? That race/ethnicity IS one the primary basis of this scholarship. No matter how high the academic achievement, community involvement or the depth of the finanical need of a black, white, asian, or native american student, they will never be considered for the scholarship.
 
Here we go again. Have they gone out of their way to donate extra to planned parenthood or are they just matching the contributions of employees to planned parenthood. If it is the latter, you can’t complain about what they are doing as they have a duty to match all contributions under the auspices of matching gifts plan. They can’t pick and choose whose contributions they are going to match.
 
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