The world-famous Mother Teresa was one of the most important figures of the Catholic Church during her lifetime and even after her death. As a Christian and admired person, she is best known for her work in eradicating poverty and helping marginalized people in the poorest parts of Calcutta, India.
Her trophy showcase is filled with prizes ranging from the Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize to the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize, cementing her personality as a person who works for the benefit of those who suffer.
Even today, when her name is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is a pious woman with the purest intentions, and her smile attracts everyone to admire her grace. However, the facts may be far removed from this perception.
Over the years, many have questioned Mother Teresa's actions and motives, arguing that her actions were a romanticization of people's suffering. From her dubious behavior at the Missionary Church of Charity to the dubious way she handled the funds given to her by suspicious people, Theresa May's dark side can be seen.
Hell's Angel
Mother Teresa: Angel of Hell
In a 1994 documentary called Hell's Angels, numerous criticisms of Teresa's actions began to emerge. The documentary was filmed by a volunteer organization for Teresa's missionary work, which means that the claims currently being made have some credibility.
In the documentary, the hygiene of canteens and shelters has been heavily criticized. And according to the testimony of various witnesses, under the management of Mother Teresa, the safety of the patient was not taken into account. This indifference manifests itself in the repeated use of needles to the patient. There is no disinfection throughout the process, which means that the chances of infection are very high.
Shockingly, these misconducts occur in a place with HIV, and these patients are already immunocompromised. Another witness said the staff at the nursing facilities had no medical training and were visibly inexperienced in dealing with patients who had calmly accepted deaths. It can be concluded that Teresa is using these people to elevate her image of compassion, rather than really caring about these people.
Is this because of a lack of financial support?
Many will conclude that working in poor areas like India means a severe lack of funding, which makes hospice conditions very poor. However, this claim is false because Mother Teresa alone has raised more than $30 million from various donors around the world, with enough money to keep the charity running smoothly.
Instead, they make no effort to improve people's living conditions, even a little. Teresa and other missionaries refused to install water heaters in some residences, proving that she cared about her own image rather than the ice water that patients used in baths.
Donald McIntyre, who went undercover at one of her hospice hospitals to volunteer for Teresa, has also reported similar cases of neglect and even abuse. Children and people with mental illness are often tied up with ropes and clothes so they can eat and stay quiet, his report said. These apparent human rights violations were ignored and never associated with Mother Teresa's divine personality.
A high-powered friend
As a saint in Christianity, Mother Teresa mingled with some of the less virtuous. She is known to make friends with people who, no matter how bad their behavior, donate to her cause. Among them was U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who reportedly orchestrated the murder of a Catholic bishop in El Salvador during the Cold War.
This is very hypocritical for a person who has devoted his life to saving lives. She was also implicated in successful business tycoons such as Charles Keating, who was later convicted of fraud and extortion for engaging in a dirty lending business. This suggests that Teresa is more inclined to amass wealth (which, by the way, is largely not used to improve the lives of patients) than to true altruism.
Saint or liar?
In 2016, Pope Francis I conferred on Mother Teresa the title of Saint after her death, one of the highest rank titles for Catholic missionaries. To be granted the title of saint, an individual must complete two known miracles, which are then recognized and recognized by the Catholic Church.
Teresa's two miracles occurred in 1998 and 2008. The former is Monica Bethra, a Bangladeshi woman who claims the tumor on her body was eradicated after praying to Mother Teresa. In 2002, the Church officially recognized it as a miracle. However, various reports, including her husband, suggest that Monica was actually cured by doctors and that it was routine treatment that saved her. This was also supported by various medical reports, but these statements were later forced to be withdrawn. The Catholic Church seems to be more concerned with this miracle than with the scientific rationale behind the benign tumor.
After Teresa's death in 1997, it was reported in 2008 that a Brazilian man with multiple brain tumors was cured by Teresa's relic, creating another miracle. In just seven days, the Catholic Church completed its investigation, and Pope Francis subsequently conferred the title of Mother Teresa as a saint.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta is undoubtedly someone who has devoted her life to helping the poor and the sick. Her years of struggle have proved that she wants to create a persona that helps others. However, her altruism is not black and white. Mother Teresa's actions have attracted numerous eyewitness reports and criticism, and we can safely say that Mother Teresa's life, as many people say, is far from perfect.