Operation Christmas Child - Arguments against that might convince a faith/catholic school?

[brilliotic]

After having done a different shoebox scheme last year, our school is now doing OCC. Arrgh. It's a catholic school. I'm not catholic.

Am looking for the most convincing arguments /info resources against participating in OCC from a christian/catholic perspective, so not humanist arguments.

Help please? Unfortunately I don't have much time right now to do lots of research but feel strongly that I'd like to let the head know why I think they should reconsider/why we won't be contributing. And it can't be 'because I'm not catholic'.

The summary I’ve just prepared to share with interested parents at our school (I’ve copied lots of bits from above, thanks):

Controversy surrounding Samaritan’s Purse.
The founder of OCC, Franklin Graham has been quoted saying the following things

⁃	describing Islam as “a very wicked and evil religion”. 
⁃	On Hinduism he says “…we travelled to the subcontinent of India, with its hundreds of millions of people locked in the darkness of Hinduism… These people were bound by Satan’s power”.  
⁃	US will ‘disintegrate’ over same-sex marriage and  <a class="break-all" href="http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/04/20/us-evangelist-putin-is-doing-whats-right-for-russia-with-anti-gay-laws/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vladimir Putin is “doing what’s right for Russia”</a> by implementing anti-gay laws.

The Christmas box scheme itself is highly problematic ­- not only on account of the organisation's aforementioned bigotry:

⁃	it seeks to use poverty and humanitarian tragedies to evangelise to children.  The charity Save The Children has questioned its effectiveness and expressed concerns about the use of evangelism in the context of people in need.  Real charity should be unconditional with no strings attached, yet OCC state that those who do not accept their message are damned to eternal punishment.

⁃	filling shoeboxes with plastic trinkets to send overseas is an horrendously inefficient way to give to charity. These toys may provide instant delight for the children but do nothing to help clothe, educate or feed them. 

The vast majority of those involved in Operation Christmas Child are likely acting with good intentions.

However, this charity has extreme values which are diametrically opposed to good morals, ethics and general Christian values. I do think it is a fantastic idea for the children to be involved in giving and thinking of others, particularly at Christmas time, but there are many alternatives to Samaritan’s Purse.

Here are some links to articles that might be of interest:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2014/dec/12/evangelical-giftwrapping-islamophobia-marches-on
http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2013/10/operation-christmas-childs-shoebox-campaign-just-propaganda-tool-christianity

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/06/02/charity-head-franklin-graham-us-will-disintegrate-over-same-sex-marriage/

http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/07/03/bakery-that-refused-gay-wedding-cake-ordered-to-pay-135000-after-legal-battle/amp/

Thank you wanting same info so saving this