New York ? A conservative group that had called on supporters to boycott Wal-Mart’s post-Thanksgiving Day sales to protest the retailer’s support of gay-rights groups withdrew its objections Tuesday.

The American Family Assn., which had been asking supporters to stay away from Wal-Mart on Friday and Saturday – two of the busiest shopping days of the year – said it was pleased that Wal-Mart had pledged in a statement to stay away from controversial causes.

Wal-Mart said it would make changes in the way it contributed to such groups, earmarking funds only for specific causes it supported, such as workplace equality, rather than giving unrestricted gifts.

A prominent gay-rights leader, Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign, said the change was minor and praised Wal-Mart for sticking with its commitments to diversity and equality despite threats from the American Family Assn.

“I don’t see it as backpedaling by Wal-Mart,” Solmonese said. “I think the AFA failed, and thought to themselves, ‘Let’s declare victory and hope nobody notices.'”

However, another group critical of Wal-Mart was skeptical.

Wal-Mart’s statement “is a confusing contortion of words that make it completely unclear whether Wal-Mart still supports equal rights for the (gay and lesbian) community or not, and worse, raises real questions as to whether they caved to the pressure from the religious right,” said Chris Kofinis of WakeUpWalMart.com.

While stressing its support for diversity and nondiscrimination, Wal-Mart said in its statement that it “will not make corporate contributions to support or oppose highly controversial issues unless they directly relate to our ability to serve our customers.”

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said the company would continue working with the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and other gay-rights groups on specific issues such as workplace equality. She indicated, however, that the company would henceforth avoid unrestricted donations that might be used for causes Wal-Mart did not endorse.

“Going forward, we would partner with them on specific initiatives … as to opposed to just giving blanket support to their general operating budget,” she said.

There was no immediate word from a second conservative group, Operation Save America, on whether it was reconsidering its plans for prayer-and-preaching rallies Friday outside many Wal-Mart stores.