to draw your attention to MN'ers being threatened with court for posting

[gordyslovesheep]

By Samaritan's Purse

I know I'm not the only one

who else have they decided to silence?

It's quite interesting that they dislike criticism so much

This thread has reminded me that on last year's thread, Brian was talking about how well-regarded SP is by the UK government's Department for for International Development, and invited us to write to DfID to get confirmation of this. I asked him to send me contact details for a named individual at DfID, and he never did.

SP's alleged, possible, open-to-interpretation Islamophobia is even more dangerous this year, with all the panic about ISIS/Islamic State.

Having just discussed this on FB, I've made an ex-OCC volunteer very cross.

As he put it: 'Fuck! I never knew I was involved in this shit!' & 'Slimy bastards!'

In my opinion, he has every right to feel upset at the lack of transparency which he alleges exists in the organisation to which he donated freely of his time.

So the head of a 'Christian' charity says objectionable things about a different superstition and threatens to sue when it's mentioned? Not exactly charitable if you ask me.

I'm reminded of what Gandhi said: "Your Christ I like: your Christians, not so much."

I will so NOT go back to last year's thread, but I am actually on reflection quite aghast that after last year's reaction SP has embarked on this course of action - do they not have PR people who advise on this stuff??
No matter what the legal position (I have no clue) sure this is (once again) a PR disaster and entirely self-generated.

I am so glad that for year's I've actively dissuaded people from donating to OCC. fuckin love it when I'm proved right

I think it's fair to say that an organisation that provides funds and support to those actively campaigning against the right of gay and lesbian people to get married (and in doing so is campaigning against gay rights) is homophobic. Wanting gay people to be treated less favourably in society is homophobic; doing your damnest to try to ensure that they continue to be treated less favourably than straight people is homophobic.

Personally, I'd rather have rats gnaw my right arm off than do anything to support those trying to campaign for treating gay and lesbian people badly. I really don't think Jesus would think much of people campaigning against treating people decently.

The first paragraph there is simply factual. The second one is my opinion.

Religious litigious. Just in time for Christmas. What fabulous publicity.

Gosh I hope everyone is OK

Posting in support.

The best thing with this organisation is not to participate. If you google you can find organisations who do it without all the religious aspect and help the children who need these kind of boxes.

I upset the leader of my son's scout group as I refused to participate and told him that he needed to look into it more. He did and found a local group who does the same thing and invited the group to come and see what they do and how they do it.

spottedzebra ours was a local church decision. prompted by your question I have just gone on my church's national main webpage and searched for OCC to see what if anything they say - and am a bit perturbed to see them recommending OCC as a great way of getting young people involved.
It was actually one of our former ministers who had a quiet word and tipped me off about OCC, so we decided to chose another charity to support.

They are suing, Showy? Or threatening to sue??
FFS.

Brian on one of the other threads: On the booklets, you need to understand that most of the children receiving a shoebox have no books of their own, nothing to read, so these booklets are often cherished...their very own book! I'd suggest you take a look at this booklet on our website, it isn't at all heavy, or pushy, so I don't really understand why a traumatised would not want to receive it, or why anyone would worry that they did.

Here's the 'book' - no I really can't imagine how anybody could have a problem with that being the only reading material a child owns.

Giles Fraser has much to say on this topic.
FWIW I suspect most of the people involved in distributing the boxes and materials are acting in good faith, but this is not the time for Anti Islamic sentiment.

Interesting, phantom dare you email your church's main body to state your opinion re SP ?

no I really can't imagine how anybody could have a problem with that being the only reading material a child own

Indeed, I can't even begin to comprehend how anyone could have a problem with such a book.

I will be attending a fund raising meeting next week at my dc's school, and as they usually do the SP christmas shoeboxes, I will be bringing this up as I am reasonably certain that they will decide to make their donations elsewhere this year.

Quite, Maryz

Do you think Brian has heard of the en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect ?