Undermining Mother Teresa

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damian_clarke

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I grew up with a great admiration for Mother Teresa of Calcutta. I still have this admiration for her. However recently I have come under sustained attack by the usual suspects about Mother Teresa. Whenever I refer to her Hitchens book is brought up. Now I have not read the book and I am not sure if I wish to devote time to reading it as I have many other important books that need to be read which have a higher priority. Has anyone read Hitchens book and does anyone have any thoughts on it. I realize this is a bit lazy of me academically but I would appreciate a reasoned Catholic response to these allegations.
Thanks in advance.
 
i have not read the “book” either,i have read excerpts.they are easy to find online,i would not spend money,effort,or time with the filth.
 
“By their fruits shall you know them.”

Consider the fruits of Mother Teresa’s work.

That she had struggles is normal. But the work of the Spirit is evident in her work.

Consider the fruits of Hitchen’s work… Oh yeah… Right!🤷
 
Barbkw said:
Hitchens just recently died in December from cancer.
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God bless his soul.

As to why someone would try to smear someone as holy as Blessed Theresa, is only due to satan’s attack on her. satan hates her. She was the cause of so much good in that poor area and, through her Sisters, throughout the world.

Of course the evil one would try to make fun of her and discredit her. Just listen to the language in the video. How pathetic. the evil one tried to ruin her in her lifetime, but failed.

Blessed Theresa has the last laugh. She cannot be tarnished by sin anymore. She is beyond the reach of our enemy.

Just as Mary can be insulted through ignorant humans, so can the rest of the saints.
 
As an aside, I’m amazed at how easily people are led off as sheep about these matters.

The Vatican said she was blessed. Why would you listen to this random guy?
 
A reworked version of “The Paradoxical Commandments” written by Dr. Kent M. Keith is written on the wall in Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta.
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This version is credited to Mother Teresa:
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          People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.
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        If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.
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        If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.
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       If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.
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        What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.
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        If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.
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        The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.
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     Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.
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     In the final analysis, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.
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I have seen the Missionaries of Charity, they have a house in my city. They feed dozens of homeless every day at that place, and provide them with clothes obtained from donations. Mother Teresa did the same - she took care of the poor and homeless, and she took care of the sick and dying. These are acts of corporal mercy, and they involve hard physical work, as well as dealing with people who are dirty, smelly, and suffering of contagious diseases which they may transmit to their caregivers. So, this is the track record of Mother Teresa and her organization - doing the lowly, difficult, dangerous, and exhausting work of caring for the downtrodden and alleviating their suffering.

What’s Mr. Hitchens’ track record? What works of charity has Mr. Hitchens performed during his life?
 
Safia said:
I agree that Hitchens was thoroughly misguided, and misunderstood Christianity deeply, but I agree with Fr. Barron when he said that Hitchens was a profoundly moral man.

For reference:
youtube.com/watch?v=vW8yBnpN48w
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Fr. Barron takes 10 minutes to explain why Hitchens could be called a profoundly moral man as well as a man with deep religiousity. At the end of the video, Fr. Barron’s reminds us of Jesus’ words from Matthew Chapter 5 (which drew me back full circle to why Fr. Barron would compliment this man’s character.)
But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for He makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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I have had the chance to work in all of Mother Teresas places for the poor crippled and dying-When she was alive they were run properly with the bottom line goals of providing Love and care to the poorest of poor-and I have friends who she took off the streets of Calcutta herself who are now adults-she did a wonderful job-however in the last 5-10 years I have seen things with my own eyes that have shown me that it has become more of a fund raising project that uses deceiptive practicies-It is a shame and as I heard of different things happening within the org I looked into each quietly on my own-and was sad to learn that most things I didnt think would happen there actually were-They lack the guidence from the heart that they lost when they lost Mother Teresa
 
Safia said:
I agree that Hitchens was thoroughly misguided, and misunderstood Christianity deeply, but I agree with Fr. Barron when he said that Hitchens was a profoundly moral man.

For reference:
youtube.com/watch?v=vW8yBnpN48w

I’ve never read the book, though I intend to.

I know also that there’s a new memoir regarding Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity, and I intend to read it, too. The problem is, we can never know the truth.
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How can you call him a “profoundly moral man” without the qualifier “appeared to be”? Or are you privy to information that no one else is?

That is the advantage of the Church! We can KNOW the saints were Holy men and women.
 
Catholicpotato said:
How can you call him a “profoundly moral man” without the qualifier “appeared to be”? Or are you privy to information that no one else is?
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That is the advantage of the Church! We can know the saints were holy, we can know their character.
 
FloridaGator said:
I have had the chance to work in all of Mother Teresas places for the poor crippled and dying-When she was alive they were run properly with the bottom line goals of providing Love and care to the poorest of poor-and I have friends who she took off the streets of Calcutta herself who are now adults-she did a wonderful job-however in the last 5-10 years I have seen things with my own eyes that have shown me that it has become more of a fund raising project that uses deceiptive practicies-It is a shame and as I heard of different things happening within the org I looked into each quietly on my own-and was sad to learn that most things I didnt think would happen there actually were-They lack the guidence from the heart that they lost when they lost Mother Teresa
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what things have you seen? what deceptive practices?
 
You have got my attention too. I too am curious about this. What’s your info?
 
Catholicpotato said:
How can you call him a “profoundly moral man” without the qualifier “appeared to be”? Or are you privy to information that no one else is?

That is the advantage of the Church! We can KNOW the saints were Holy men and women.
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Yes, I agree that such a qualifier is necessary – that’s my mistake. I meant that the search for truth as shown in his writing reflects a certain morality, as Fr. Barron outlines, but of course, no one knows for sure.
 
FloridaGator said:
I have had the chance to work in all of Mother Teresas places for the poor crippled and dying-When she was alive they were run properly with the bottom line goals of providing Love and care to the poorest of poor-and I have friends who she took off the streets of Calcutta herself who are now adults-she did a wonderful job-however in the last 5-10 years I have seen things with my own eyes that have shown me that it has become more of a fund raising project that uses deceiptive practicies-It is a shame and as I heard of different things happening within the org I looked into each quietly on my own-and was sad to learn that most things I didnt think would happen there actually were-They lack the guidence from the heart that they lost when they lost Mother Teresa
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I’m not saying that what you witnessed isn’t/wasn’t true, but I’d be very careful about making such statements – without evidence to reflect it.
 
I have not read many saints lives when they have not had to come up against sustained attack. People always try to tarnish and defame those that are most pure. Think of the most Holy Jesus! Did they not try to accuse Jesus of being of the devil? Didn’t they crucify Christ? :signofcross:
 
One thing that bothered me was that I am an American-not wealthy-not poor-and when I went to help at the different places those in charge turned away local people who wanted to help(but could not help and donate monies also) These local people have a lot to offer but because they could only donate their time and not monies also-they were turned away
 
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