Re: Operation Christmas Child While not wishing to reignite the acrimonious debate that took place concerning the Operation Christmas Child (OCC) shoe box scheme in The Bath Chronicle last year, I feel it is important to correct an inaccurate statement made by the local organiser, David Dawson, in your edition of November 19.
He is quoted as saying "All the schools in the area are involved".
This is simply rolex replica untrue.
Given the concerns about the organisation's evangelical aims, and the methods by which it operates, many local headteachers and school governing bodies eschew the scheme in favour of other charities whose purpose is to offer help without proselytising.
There are a number of such shoe box schemes, including Link Romania, which enable school children in the UK to learn about poverty and the value of altruistic giving, without supporting OCC's less than transparent tactics.
Nationally, numerous organisations - and many churches public statements derogating other religions.
rolex fakeA quick visit to the Samaritan's Purse US website will appraise readers of the scheme's stated purpose in their own words - "as a tool for evangelism".
'And what's wrong with that?' was the Chronicle editor's comment last year in his column. Leaving aside the ostracising of converts from their families and communities, and the fact that in some Islamic communities the penalty for apostasy can be death, is it appropriate for the kindness and generosity of UK school children and their families to be misused and exploited in such
embroidered patches an underhand way? Schools can easily go elsewhere for their charitable Christmas giving, and fortunately, many do.
CHARLES PLUMMER Bath too -- also give OCC a wide berth because its mission is incompatible with their equalities policies, and may be in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
OCC's umbrella organisation, Samaritan's Purse, (no connection with the entirely reputable Samaritans) was started by Franklin Graham - an evangelical preacher from the USA, who has made numerous
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