Twist on Mother Theresa story

[_moksha]

Mercury, I doubt any sneering from Hitchen's upscale digs in New York would do much to improve the lives of the impoverished in Calcutta. I say it is more blessed to serve in the trenches than bellyache after the fact on the posh side lines. Especially when peddling a book or media act.

[_CaliforniaKid]

How do these people do it? I mean, really - how does a priest who is molesting young boys continue to act as a priest and actually advise one of the most famous nuns in the world in her own search for god?

Look at the example of Joseph Smith the treasure hunter being called to restore the true and living gospel in the latter days. If fraudulent treasure hunting was, in some twisted fashion, a preparatory calling for Joseph Smith, then maybe child molestation was the same for this priest. Who knows the mind of God? Don't engage in presentism, beastie.

This thread could get awfully twisted awfully fast.

[_beastie]

First, regarding whether she was a fraud - I think the term would be misplaced with MT. I do agree with much of what Hitchen's said - I believe her rigid opposition to birth control did ensure the future poverty and destitution of women and children. And it is possible that her focus on suffering as noble led her to not be as proactive to alleviate the cause of the suffering as she could have been. But this is more due to her particularly brand of fanaticism than being a fraud. I think that these letters reveal that, despite her deep doubts, in her own way, she remained a True Believer - True Believers will themselves to retain their particular faith no matter WHAT the contrary evidence or lack of supporting evidence may be, and she kept going in her faith despite the most personal contrary evidence - the complete lack of evidence of a god in her life at all. So I would not call her a fraud, but do believe she was compounding the problem of poverty with her dogmatism.

The Bible does teach us that God seems to like using some truly sexually perverse males as his personal spokesmen. Lot, David, Solomon, Paul, come to mind immediately. So I guess he could use a child molester to help MT see that he exists.

So, Dude, did I adequately divest myself of presentism there? ;)

It's so hard for me to see how this sort of stuff doesn't bother believers. Think about what this story is saying - that a child molester felt the presence of God and Mother Theresa didn't. Either God is a totally bizarre entity and has no rhyme or reason as to whom he chooses to share his presence with, or this is no God and feeling his presence is related to biology and culture, not an external reality.

[_beastie]

For those interested in the MT story in general, Bob McCue wrote an excellent essay on RFM. RFM has an odd linking system, so I will provide a backdoor entrance from postmormon here:

http://www.postmormon.org/exp_e/index.p ... read/3744/

[_mormonmistress]

How do these people do it? I mean, really - how does a priest who is molesting young boys continue to act as a priest and actually advise one of the most famous nuns in the world in her own search for god?

He was a fraud, obviously, as is anyone else who molests children. They come from all walks of life, teachers, scout masters, doctors, you name it. I think there are many reasons why there seems to be a preponderance of this kind within the Catholic priesthood. In many of these old school families, the children were beaten viciously, incest was rife and alcohol fueled rages were commonplace. The last confession I ever made was to a child molester. He came from a huge family that was ruled with an iron fist. His mother used to clutch her rosary beads in the rest home I nursed her in, while calling those of us working as nurse aides, bitches. *shakes head* She was one of the most unholy women I ever met.

Anyway, I think that this behaviour is often 'nurtured' in a person during their upbringing. Many who harm children were harmed in the same, if not similar way when they were growing up. It doesn't excuse their behaviour, but it's a fact that cycles tend to repeat themselves. There is also the matter of the unnatural suppression of their sexuality and the fact that those who have a compulsion towards molesting children, tend to gravitate towards professions where they come into contact with a lot of them.

So why do they continue to live a lie and advise others on their spiritual matters? I don't know. It's hard to know what is really going on in the mind of someone who is so sick. Perhaps they truly wish they could stop, so carry on in the hope that God will help them stop their compulsions? I am often better at giving advice than taking it. I think that is natural for many of us. Or, perhaps it is the only way they can see to get away with it.


As for Mother Theresa, I think she was a saint, but not in the traditional sense. She devoted herself to what she believed to be right and gave a hell of a lot of herself to helping others. She may have got some of it wrong, but I believe her heart was in the right place. I applaud her for voicing her doubts. As for her rapid beatification, well I think the Saint Maker JPII was in part trying to make up for a decline in church numbers. Raise the profile, raise the numbers. B XVI will no doubt carry on in the same vein. He gives me the creeps. He looks evil to me!

[_Infymus]

Just had to add this;

[_Ray A]

For those interested in the MT story in general, Bob McCue wrote an excellent essay on RFM. RFM has an odd linking system, so I will provide a backdoor entrance from postmormon here:

http://www.postmormon.org/exp_e/index.p ... read/3744/

To link to a thread on RFM right-click on the thread title/subject on the main forum page, open properties, then copy the URL address in properties, and paste.

http://www.exmormon.org/boards/w-agora/ ... 1193968551

[_Runtu]

For those interested in the MT story in general, Bob McCue wrote an excellent essay on RFM. RFM has an odd linking system, so I will provide a backdoor entrance from postmormon here:

http://www.postmormon.org/exp_e/index.p ... read/3744/

To link to a thread on RFM right-click on the thread title/subject on the main forum page, open properties, then copy the URL address in properties, and paste.

http://www.exmormon.org/boards/w-agora/ ... 1193968551

I hear Mother Teresa was a lousy tipper, too. ;)

[_Ray A]

I hear Mother Teresa was a lousy tipper, too. ;)

Now that would have to be her worst trait!

[_Runtu]

I hear Mother Teresa was a lousy tipper, too. ;)

Now that would have to be her worst trait!

I also heard she swore like a sailor. Oh, wait a minute. That was you. :)