an EVIL woman... 1. Poor medical care & “suffering as virtue” Most serious and well-documented criticism Doctors and nurses who volunteered (including Dr. Robin Fox, editor of The Lancet), reported: Minimal pain relief, even for terminal cancer patients Reused needles, lack of proper diagnosis, no antibiotics when available Patients were often not informed of their diagnoses Teresa reportedly believed suffering brought people closer to God, calling it “a beautiful gift.” Critics argue this led to avoidable pain, even when treatment was affordable or donated. Key point: Critics say suffering was spiritually valued rather than medically minimized. 2. Financial opacity & misuse of donations Mother Teresa raised hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide Despite this: Her hospices remained extremely under-equipped Donations were not transparently accounted for Large sums were deposited in Vatican banks or used to expand the Missionaries of Charity, not to improve care No public audits of her global finances were ever released Criticism: Money intended for the poor did not materially improve patient conditions. 3. Acceptance of money from corrupt or criminal figures She accepted donations from: Charles Keating, convicted U.S. financier (Savings & Loan scandal) Jean-Claude Duvalier, brutal dictator of Haiti Other wealthy individuals accused of corruption or exploitation When Keating was convicted, Teresa wrote a letter asking for leniency but did not return the money. 4. Aggressive anti-abortion, anti-contraception stance She campaigned globally against: Abortion Contraception Critics argue: Her stance contributed to preventable suffering, especially among poor women She opposed family planning even in areas with extreme poverty and high maternal mortality She famously called abortion: “The greatest destroyer of peace.” 5. Conversion practices (“deathbed baptisms”) Former volunteers and journalists reported: Implicit or explicit baptisms of dying patients, often without informed consent While defenders say patients were not coerced, critics argue: Many did not understand what was happening This violated religious autonomy 6. Double standard: treatment for herself vs others When Mother Teresa became seriously ill: She received advanced medical treatment in modern hospitals Critics note this contrasts sharply with: The minimal care provided to those in her hospices 7. Cult-like discipline within her order Former members reported: Extreme obedience demanded Punishments like: Silence Public confession Denial of basic comforts Little tolerance for dissent or questioning