Mother Teresa
Question from Robbe on 4/29/2008:
Greetings,
I understand that Mother Teresa is said to have said something along the lines of, "I try to help a Hindu become a better Hindu ... a Buddhist become a better Buddhist" in terms of bringing all faiths together. My question is, what did she mean by this exactly? Rather, is she saying that it's okay for others to be adherents to faiths outside of Christianity? And if so, did she believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father? Thank you in advance.
Answer by Catholic Answers on 4/29/2008:
Robbe--
Recommended reading:
Was Mother Teresa a heretic?
Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers
Here is Mother Teresa’s exact quote, “I’ve always said we should help a Hindu become a better Hindu, a Muslim become a better Muslim, a Catholic become a better Catholic” (Mother Teresa: The Case for The Cause, 29). She also said, “I convert you to be a better Hindu, a better Catholic, Muslim, Jain, or Buddhist” (Mother Teresa: The Case for The Cause, 4). There are a number of other quotes that could be brought forward.
ReplyDeleteYou asked, “what did she mean by this exactly…she saying that it's okay for others to be adherents to faiths outside of Christianity? And if so, did she believe that Jesus is the only way to the Father?”
To answer your first question, I ask you to ask yourself this question, “If you heard those words from anyone else, who was not Mother Teresa, would you still be asking the question? If I were the author of those quotes, would you be seeking a meaning behind the literal understanding of the words quoted? Are you seeking a meaning behind the literal understanding of the words I am using now? How would you know what is literal and what is figurative?”
To your second question, the answer is yes and no, it was ok to an extent. She was very conflicted on this point. She wanted them to be Catholics (see chapters 3 and 7 in Mother Teresa: The Case for The Cause) but she told everyone that she had no intent to convert. She said, “We never try to convert those who receive [aid from Missionaries of Charity] to Christianity but in our work we bear witness to the love of God’s presence and if Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists, or agnostics become for this better men—simply better—we will be satisfied” (Mother Teresa: The Case for The Cause, 47). This is simply not true.
To your third question, sadly, the answer is no. She said, “When we die we are going to be with God, and with all those we have known who have gone before us; our family and our friends will be there waiting for us. Heaven must be a beautiful place” (Mother Teresa: The Case for The Cause, 115).
The answer Michelle Arnold gave http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=39183 was an interpretation of the CCC not in line with Scripture or Tradition (CCC, 75ff).
Pray for Mother Teresa and pray for those who would twist the word of God because they have made an idol of her.
Pax et Gratia