A Minnesota hospital issued a profuse apology to staff after failing to abide by its "values of respect and justice" -- by giving out free Chick-fil-A.

Essentia Health in Duluth wrote to staff last Tuesday after staff clucked about the free sandwiches available in the St. Mary's Medical Center's atrium earlier that day.

"We have received feedback from some colleagues who were concerned or offended by this occurrence, and we value colleagues feeling comfortable expressing their reservations," Tammy Kritzer, senior vice president for regional operations at Essentia Health wrote in an email to medical staff that was obtained by The Daily Wire.

"We would like to thank our colleagues who had the courage to speak up to widen our lens of inclusivity, and we appreciate all colleagues continuing to live our values of respect and justice," Kritzer wrote.

Chick-fil-A has drawn the ire of LGBT activists over the years, who have boycotted and staged protests over the company donating to groups like the Salvation Army, which activists claim has "a record of anti-LGBTQ discrimination." In fact, the company emphasizes that it "values diversity, equity and inclusion" and does not discriminate or tolerate harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The hospital distanced itself from Chick-fil-A in the email, writing that the free lunch was "not intended to endorse a business or business practices," the email said.