Debate over Mother Teresa’s Legacy: From Controversy to Canonization
Pope Francis Attributes Second Miracle to Mother Teresa, Paving the Way for Sainthood
During an event on 17 December to mark his 79th birthday, Pope Francis announced that a second miracle has been attributed to Mother Teresa, the late Roman Catholic missionary known for her charitable work. This important development effectively paves the way for Mother Teresa to become a saint, the highest honor bestowed by the Roman Catholic Church.
The news has been met with celebration among Mother Teresa’s many fans, who view her canonization as inevitable. However, it has also reignited the debate surrounding the merits of Mother Teresa’s charitable work and the nature of her legacy.
In India, where Mother Teresa conducted the majority of her work, her legacy has been called into question before. Earlier this year, the head of the Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) criticized her intentions, sparking outrage and a heated debate.
The controversy surrounding Mother Teresa is not new, as her saintly reputation has been overshadowed by allegations of misuse of funds, poor medical treatments, and religious evangelism in the institutions she founded. Critics like the late British writer Christopher Hitchens have been vocal in their criticisms of Mother Teresa, accusing her of being more interested in promoting her fundamentalist Roman Catholic beliefs than in truly helping the poor.
Despite these criticisms, the Roman Catholic Church seems poised to move forward with Mother Teresa’s canonization. Speculation is already circulating that the ceremony could take place in September 2016, the 19th anniversary of her death.
The debate surrounding Mother Teresa’s legacy continues to be a contentious issue, with supporters and critics alike weighing in on her impact and intentions. As the process for her canonization moves forward, the discussion is likely to intensify, shedding new light on the complex legacy of this iconic figure in the world of humanitarian work.