Mother Teresa and Her Critics

A religious order focused on direct individual aid to marginalized people.

Direct individual aid to those in need, like an act of compassion for the suffering.

Reform social and economic systems to reduce oppression and disparity.

Founder of the Missionaries of Charity, emphasizing works of mercy.

Concerns about their efficiency and care for certain groups, like lepers and orphans.

Germaine Greer criticized Mother Teresa's charity for opposing abortion,lack of transparency in organization activities, finances, and policies.

Mother Teresa's image was idealized by media, creating a disconnect from reality.

President Bill Clinton invited Mother Teresa to a prayer breakfast, but the audience response was lackluster/hostile.

Some disagreed with Mother Teresa's actions and beliefs, including those who dislike her opposition to abortion, and some atheists.

A term for a group of prominent atheist critics of Mother Teresa; Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Sam Harris.

Mother Teresa's ministry expanded globally, assisting underserved populations in many countries.

Mother Teresa's travels and work were consistently covered by the media.

Some cynical politicians tried to take advantage of her fame.

People frequently asked her to help with crises and start new missions.

Mother Teresa's work benefited from her connections with Popes John XXIII and John Paul II.

A two-month Israeli airstrike on Beirut in 1982 targeting PLO, causing widespread destruction and casualties.

Mother Teresa's visit to a damaged Muslim hospice in Beirut, resulting in a temporary ceasefire and rescue of children.

Palestinian Liberation Organization supplying resources to the conflict, escalating tensions.

Israeli ambassador assassination in England, which fueled the escalation of the Beirut conflict.

A damaged building in Beirut used as shelter for developmentally challenged children fleeing the conflict.

Hitchens argued Mother Teresa's focus was on converting people to her religion, not solely helping the poor.

Hitchens criticized the Missionaries of Charity for neglecting basic medical care, saying it was a deliberate aspect of their work and not a mistake.

Hitchens pointed out Mother Teresa's connections with corrupt political leaders and businessmen.

Hitchens condemned Mother Teresa's silence on the communist regime in Albania and argued she didn't address the state's brutal nature.

Hitchens questioned whether Mother Teresa's actions and motivations were truly altruistic, suggesting a hidden agenda.

Direct individual care, not large-scale issues. Emphasis on personal service and love.

Providing immediate needs like food, clothing, and affection to individuals in need.

A philosophy emphasizing the significance of small acts of love and service to God.

Mother Teresa believed that measures of service should be based on love and service to individuals, not numbers.

Mother Teresa prioritized individual emotional need over major, systemic change.

Mother Teresa strongly opposed abortion and birth control methods besides the rhythm method, considering it a "true war" and the "worst evil" that could lead to the devaluation of life.

Mother Teresa saw abortion as akin to war, believing the loss of a human life devalues all life.

Mother Teresa's perspective equated abortion with direct violence against human life, associating it with the potential for further harm and dehumanization.

Mother Teresa was against birth control methods other than the rhythm method, considering them harmful to family planning and societal values.

Mother Teresa compared the suffering from hunger and disease to the casualties from abortion, emphasizing the importance of saving all human lives.

Pope John Paul II initially believed Mother Teresa was 'Mother Teresa of Delhi', impressed by her Christ-centered message.

Mother Teresa asked Pope John Paul II to allow her to decline engagements, saying they were too extensive

The Pope responded to her request playfully, suggesting it was forbidden, likely as a lighthearted response.

Pope John Paul II visited the Kalighat in 1986, a significant memory for Mother Teresa.

Both Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II had humble beginnings, losing a parent in childhood and raised in devout households.

A hospice established to provide care for AIDS patients in New York City

Community concerns about the spread of AIDS

A larger AIDS hospice facility that opened after community opposition

Spread of hospices to other US cities and Africa

Rules that limited visiting hours and television access

A 1984 disaster in India where a gas leak at a Union Carbide factory led to the deaths and injuries of thousands, contaminating the environment and causing widespread starvation.

Mother Teresa's visit to Bhopal to alleviate suffering and garner international attention for aid efforts after the gas leak.

A severe famine in Ethiopia in 1985, which affected one million people.

A 1986 nuclear disaster in Ukraine that resulted in widespread atmospheric contamination and required international relief efforts.

The reaction to crises like Bhopal, Ethiopia, and Chernobyl, involving many countries responding to aid those in need and helping to recover.