Thank Goodness! A&E reverses course, will allow 'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson back on the show

Duck Dynasty patriarch, Phil Robertson is going back to work with A&E after the network reversed its suspension of Robertson on Friday. The reinstatement of Robertson to his own show comes after millions of fans protested A&E's treatment of the down-to-earth, Christian reality star.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Phil Robertson, patriarch of the hit A&E Network show, Duck Dynasty, was suspended after remarks he made about homosexuality were published in an interview he gave to GQ magazine.

Robertson told GQ, "Start with homosexual behavior and just morph from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men."

Robertson shared his Christian faith with the interviewer. He explained his views on what constitutes sinful behavior and he gave a truthful response grounded in scripture and reason. Unfortunately, that response is politically unpopular in the United States as the homosexual equivalency movement has claimed mainstream acceptance and demands compliance.

Many homosexual advocates blasted A&E for tolerating Robertson's statement and the network immediately announced the star would be suspended.

That suspension ignited a firestorm of both Christian and free speech advocacy as millions of Americans rushed to the defense of Robertson and his right to speak his mind, tell the truth, and to hold fast to his Christian faith, which he happens to share with the overwhelming majority of less-vocal Americans.

Key to that defense was Robertson's family that insisted they would not continue the show without their patriarch.

It also helped that retailers such as Target and Walmart stood firm with Robertson and millions of Americans and kept Duck Dynasty products on store shelves and refrained from siding with the homosexual equivalency advocates.

One exception was the Cracker Barrel restaurant chain which initially pulled the Duck Dynasty merchandise from its shelves then encountered a massive public backlash that caused them to reverse course last weekend and return the products.

A&E announced its reversal in a press release on Friday saying, that it would return the star to its show but that it would also air a campaign "promoting unity, tolerance and acceptance among all people."

For his part, Robertson stood by his comments and has not backed down from them. Of course, as a faithful Christian his position is always going to be God's position and as Catholic Online explained last week, God makes the rules, not men. Not even the Pope or the Church has the authority to change the law imposed by God, who is the final judge of all behavior.

Of course, as Pope Francis pointed out, we have no need to disrespectfully criticize our brothers and sisters who choose to live apart from this teaching, however we do not have to condone such behavior either. It should also be pointed out that Robertson's comments as well as Biblical and Church teaching apply to inappropriate heterosexual behavior as well.

Catholic Online would also like to thank all its readers who supported us as well as Robertson during this brief, but important episode in defending the faith and the First Amendment.

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