Criticizing Mother Teresa

I’ve also been reading up on critiques of Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity—yes, it is possible to criticize Mother Teresa. I know, I cringed at the idea at first too, but then I kept reading. And the material is in no short supply either. It’s interesting. Most of the critiques center on medical neglect and financial mismanagement/a lack of financial transparency. Most of the articles/books I found also seem to center on her homes in India, Calcutta in particular. In terms of medical neglect, I found claims that needles were washed in cold water and reused until they were dull and hurt the patient/residents (which all of the articles referred to as “inmates,” even ascribing that name to the words of the sisters themselves), that untrained volunteers were administering medical care that they weren’t qualified to do, that the sisters didn’t distinguish between curable and incurable illnesses and let patients who could have been cured die, and that the sisters glorified suffering not just for themselves but also for their patients. One story I found (that I probably ought to research the validity of) told that Mother Teresa was once with a patient who was screaming in agony. She told him that he was sharing in the suffering of Jesus and that “Jesus is kissing you,” to which he replied, “Then tell your Jesus to stop kissing me!” At best, it makes for an interesting story, at worst, it makes for an awful reality. Apparently they don’t use painkillers. I’ve read, however, that when the sisters are sick, Mother Teresa in particular, they are taken to the best doctors and specialists. The financial mismanagement/lack of financial transparency is related to the medical neglect. They don’t accept money from the government or the church. They don’t fundraise because “God provides.” Apparently even canning tomatoes after receiving an excessive donation showed a lack of trust in divine providence. The Missionaries of Charity don’t keep financial records but are assumed to be the wealthiest congregation in the Catholic church (as per estimates by those who have left the congregation). However, it appears that the massive donations they’ve received haven’t gone towards improving living conditions or patient welfare practices in the existing homes, but rather they have gone toward flying Mother Teresa around in a private jet, opening new convents and homes, and simply sitting in their bank accounts, as one former sister said. They also apparently reject any donations of new materials or new technology such as new needles offered by a group of volunteers or washing machines offered by the same. One article made a good point that with the reputation that Mother Teresa had, medical groups, non-profits, charities, etc. would jump at the chance to be able to provide modern medical care and other materials and services to her organization, but she never asked for it, and better yet, she (and her organization) refused these things when they were offered. The world has gained a lot by the suffering of the poor, Mother Teresa said once. I can definitely understand this in a capitalistic sense—that the rest of the world has profited much from the labor and money of the poor. But Mother Teresa meant that in the eyes of God, the world has benefited from the suffering of the poor because God loves suffering, in her eyes. I’m not really sure what to make of all this.

On the other hand, this doesn’t all match what I’ve seen at Abakarikuta. Yes, the facilities are simple, but they’re clean—washed at least once a day, and I’m sure it’s more when I’m not there. There’s a group working to get the kids custom fit wheel chairs, and they didn’t mention any resistance from the sisters. There’s a physical therapist that comes in three times a week and provides them with therapy that, according to a pediatrician friend of another volunteer, is very good for the resources they have and employs modern practices. I also haven’t seen any horrendously sick people or reused needles, but I’ve also only been with healthy kids, and I don’t think this is a home for the dying—notwithstanding the elderly people there, but even they seem healthy. Everyone seems well fed too, so I don’t know what to think just yet. Maybe it’s just India that has all or most of the problems. Maybe I just can’t see the problems here yet. The only thing I’ve noticed is that, from what I’ve seen in my limited 3 days of work, there doesn’t seem to be a goal-oriented or progress-oriented mindset here. Everything is just maintenance of the status quo. Maybe that’s all they have the time/man-power for. Maybe that’s symptomatic of the Missionaries of Charity mindset. I don’t know.  I’ll keep reading, I guess, and learning about this organization first and second hand and see where that gets me.