to ask for your help in writing an objection to Operation Christmas Child?

[autumnwinds]

Our local primary is supporting OCC and has published a piece in the village magazine explaining how wonderful it is and how much the local children enjoy it, what a difference it makes to needy children, and inviting local residents to donate too. The piece omits any reference to the evangelical christian literature that is distributed with the parcels and the way that the gifts are used as a tool to agressively convert recipients to christianity.

I would like to write a reply for publishing in next month's issue trying to give the full picture so that people can make an informed choice about whether to donate to this charity, and to suggest some alternatives that don't come with the religious baggage.

As I don't have a child at the primary yet I'm not sure about tackling the school itself about it (they are not a faith school, so not sure they should be supporting this). DC will be starting next year so I might save that fight for next xmas!

Anyway does anyone have any ideas about a few lines I could write, something succinct and unemotional? I feel quite cross about it but don't want to come across as an equally fundamentalist atheist. I've been looking for some evidence on the web for people who want to know more but most of it is not well referenced...

Yanbu and those who are saying it is a 'Christian charity' and what does the OP think that they are doing, should really do a bit of research before promoting it.

I can remember a MNetter in Bosnia posting about her DC receiving such a box.

I wrote a blog post a couple of years ago about this, including a quote from their website

'Two churches and multiple Sunday schools have started as a result of 10 years of distributing shoe boxes on the island of Trinidad.'

If you want to help children in another country, then have a look at Catapult which funds charities directly.

holdmecloser I loved it when Brain was on that thread!

He shot himself other foot so many times with his posts I'm surprised he could walk afterwards.

Remember the bit where he couldn't see the problem with telling a gay man he met that the bible says being gay is wrong?

• Brian

The OP is not launching a one-woman mission to make everyone agrees with her - she is just trying to make sure everyone knows the full facts about a charity they are being asked to support, based on very limited information.

Is it really so hard to see the difference?

If people know about the evangelism and support it, they can donate. If they didn't know about the evangelism and don't support it, they can choose not to donate.

Unless people have all the information, they can't make an informed choice. OCC seems to have a habit of not being clear about the way it operates, which is a very unethical way for a charity to work.

The food banks run by the Trussell Trust are a Christian charity. Should we stop donating to the poor and hungry in case they get 'converted'? You are being very unreasonable. Ridiculous post.

Exactly, Exexpat.

The OP isn't trying to convert everyone to her thinking. She's just trying to ensure that those who take part in this scam charitable event know exactly what they are supporting.

that's ironic given OCC mission to make all the kids who get gifts believe what they do

The OP has every right to object to a homophobic, right wing, anti Islamic organisation being promoted in school

The whole problem stems from the dishonesty.

If someone wrote a bit in the newsletter saying "please support this wildly inefficient evangelical charity reach out to Third World children at Christmastime" nobody would mind.

Almost nobody would be interested, but they wouldn't mind.

If you think this is a worthwhile thing to spend money and effort on, great.

But stop lying about it! Of course people are going to be pissed off, and express why, when the charity is so misleading!

The OP is only looking to correct the misleading newsletter.

I would have thought that the second link in SueDoku's post at 15:07 today, showing a photo of a child awaiting his shoebox, with the evangelical leaflet already on his lap, would be enough to convince people of what actually takes place during these gift-giving sessions.

The Trussell Trust does not try to get people who use the food banks to sign up for bible classes or accept Jesus as their saviour. They help people who need help. There is a huge difference.

I am normally of the "if you don't agree don't donate" camp; however I have never come across anyone in RL who, once made aware of the practices of OCC/Samaritans Purse, wanted to have anything more to do with it. Including devoted Christians.

I think it is fair enough to make people aware, as it is apparently still little known and people are often horrified that their generosity had been used to further an agenda they disagree with.

Many charities have their roots in religious organizations.

The information is out there, people are more than capable of finding it if they want. To assume they are ignorant and oblivious and in need of enlightenment is insulting

poppy, I started a thread last month about the Trussell Trust volunteers offering to say prayers for food bank users.

At no point did I suggest people shouldn't donate food, just that food bank users should be made aware of the fact that they may be offered a prayer when they went to pick up their food.

I'm surprised you weren't on that thread, tbh.

YABU. Send your shoebox elsewhere if you don't like it. Ridiculous!

RTFT, Leviticus

poppycock that is what you are talking too. I didn't know the aims behind this charity and they are not aims I would support. I was generous in what I spent, although as I said I had reservations about it being a sensible use of funds.

There are many, many excellent Christian charities. I'm not a Christian but I am more than happy to donate to Christian Aid or give money to The Salvation Army carol singers. These organisations are upfront and honest about who they are and what they do.

I agree with you OP and the other 'haterz ' and am trying to fashion a letter to our school so this has been very helpful.

My uncle became a very evangelical Christian and was vile to my mum who it upset greatly that her brother could become so (dare I say it) unchristian in the way he treated loved ones. He then refused cancer treatment as 'god would save him'. He then died and truly believed god made him die for a reason. Total waste IMO

YANBU OP.

I worked for a year at a Christian charity (I'm an atheist) and support was given to people of all faiths, or none, without any evangelism or expectation that people would become Christians. I don't agree with using charity as an opportunity to push a religion on people.

Of you think something its unethical then it its your right, your duty even, to share that information and speak out about it. Also give informed choice and alternatives.

I'm not sure how not speaking out its the right thing to do because some people already know its Christian. As was shown on here recently lots of people didn't know the nature of the charity. Informed choice is good

It's not true that everyone knows that OCC is a Christian charity, I certainly didn't until I read it on here.

I've no objection to charities that have religious origins, however I do have an issue with charity being used as a tool to try and convert the vulnerable and desperate. That is wrong IMO.

Ok I have penned a letter to the head. At the risk of fuelling the bun fight, I've copied the text below to hopefully help anyone else thinking of writing, as I've found the excerpts from previous posters letters really useful. Please don't find any typos, I need to get on and cook dinner rather than dwelling on this for another hour!

".....However, I was disappointed that your most recent article exhorted the local community to join in the Operation Christmas Child scheme, without making any mention of the strongly evangelical ethos of the Samaritan’s Purse charity. While you might argue that it is to be expected that a Christmas charity box scheme would be run by a Christian charity, it is less well known that the boxes are distributed with evangelical literature (including a religious ‘pledge’ card to be signed by the child), and children receiving the boxes are encouraged to sign up for a 12 lesson ‘discipleship programme’.

This information is freely available on the internet via the Samaritan’s Purse websites (both UK and USA), and undoubtedly many Christians support their mission. However, others will not, and may not be aware of it. I am concerned that given your position as a respected member of the community, people may follow your recommendation without investigating further and considering whether they support this particular charity’s aims. I have my own opinions about it, but I don’t want to write an anti-Operation Christmas Child letter, simply to ask that you include more detail if you promote the scheme again next year, to ensure people make a fully informed choice. For example, there are a number of alternative Christmas box charities that people could choose to support that do not have an evangelical purpose, such as “Link to Hope” or “Aquabox”. I would also ask that you include this information when you promote the scheme to children and their parents, if you do not already.

It may well be that you were not aware of the evangelical nature of the scheme or the controversies surrounding it. If you would like to find out more, there is a reputable summary available at this web address: humanism.org.uk/humanism/humanism-today/humanists-doing/good-causes-and-charities/samaritans-purse/

I hope this letter does not deter you from continuing with this year’s effort, as I strongly support all charitable efforts to improve the lives of children in need. I simply ask that you consider changing how you promote it in future years."

All the OP is doing is suggesting she writes a letter explaining the history of OCC / Samaritans Purse so people can make an informed choice.

Yet all these 'Christian' posters are coming out saying she is BU - for writing a letter FFS! Speaks volumes...

FWIW I support a lot of charities that have religious backgrounds and once volunteered at a Christian homeless shelter - they did no proselytising. Not all 'Christian' charities are the same - and the shoebox charities are particularly noxious and unhelpful.

It's a good letter OP.

A very good letter indeed, and yanbu. If I were you I'd probably add something about their homophobia if you have time but even if you don't, you've made excellent points and you come across as very balanced.

I have used both shoeboxes and Mary's Meals backpacks and feel that as long as the children get something and are made happy that is all that matters.The OCC leaflet tells you not to include anything of a religious nature and some of the boxes go to Eastern European Muslim commuities.