Edward P. Tagliaferro, Paola
Mother Teresa on divorce
With kind permission from the editor of the Cana eNotice Board, I propose for readers’ reflection what Mother Teresa wrote to the people of Ireland when faced with the issue of divorce. It was written at 54A, Lower Circular Road, Calcutta and dated November 7, 1995:
Dear people of Ireland,
I am praying with you at this important time when your country decides on the question of divorce. My prayer is that you be faithful to the teaching of Jesus: “a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife and they become one body. What God has put together, let no one divide”. Our hearts are made to love – a love that is, not only unconditional but also lasting.
What is the meaning of true love in marriage? A man and a woman who really love each other will never promise, when they marry, “I will love you and be true – for a while”.
They always promise “I will love you for ever and always be true no matter what happens and no matter what you do”.
Breaking the vow of marriage to be faithful until death is not only against true love but it also hurts the children in a special way.
Our children depend on us for everything: their health, education, care, values, guidance and, above all, our love. But in some cases the mother and father have no time for their children or the unity of the parents is broken so that the children leave home and wander here and there and the number of such young people keeps increasing from day to day.
Jesus on the Cross had to give until it hurt because that is what it took for Him to love us and save us. If a father and mother are not willing to give until it hurts to be faithful to each other, and to their children, they are not showing their children what it means to love. And if the parents do not show their children what love is, who else is going to show them? These children will grow up to be spiritually poor and this kind of poverty is much more difficult to be overcome than material poverty.
It is true that many families have experienced much suffering because of violence, alcoholism and, abuses which have often led to a breakdown in the relationship.
If the family prays together, they will stay together. And if they stay together, they will love each other as God loves each one of them. The fruit of prayer is joy, love, peace and unity in the family and this will be an example of love for the children and for the neighbours. And so, there will be no need for divorce. How can the spouses give up each other if they love each other? Divorce breaks, destroys and causes terrible temptations. And it also causes suffering and pain to the heart, to the children and to the whole family. Divorce is one of the biggest killers of family, love and unity.
If, for some reason, the spouses have to live separately, that has nothing to do with divorce.
When a country allows divorce, the harm is not only done to the families that are broken by it. Harm is done to the whole society because allowing divorce tells people that the promise of marriage is to be faithful not “until death does us part” but only “until divorce does us part”. But this is very different from what Jesus taught us about marriage: “What God has put together, let no one divide”.
I also know that there are great problems in the world, that many spouses do not love each other enough to be faithful until death. We cannot solve all the problems in the world but let us never bring in the worst problem of all and that is to destroy love. And that is what we are doing when we tell married people they can divorce each other and go with someone else.
Besides, a country that accepts divorce will soon have more and more broken families that lead to more disunity... and to more divisions in other families. This is not only because divorce is a destroyer of love, unity and peace but also because the divorced feel lonely and often find friends of their own age who are usually married. This kind of friendship breaks up other marriages and this just goes on and on.
Only for the sake of material riches and benefits the country should never bring in the greatest poverty of all which is spiritual poverty. And this is what a country does by bringing in divorce, which destroys love in the family and, in this way, brings in the greatest spiritual poverty.
Let us remember that divorce is not only wrong for Catholics. It is wrong for everyone because it is against love for a man and a woman to enter a kind of marriage in which they promise to be faithful only “until divorce does them part”.
Let us pray. The joy of loving is the joy of sharing as Mary and Joseph, during the time of suffering and difficulty, stand together in love, unity and trust. May this be a beautiful example for all families today.
I pray that Ireland, by giving a no vote to divorce, will continue to be a sign of unity, love and peace for the world, especially peace where it must start, in the family. Always pray together and you will stay together and you will love each other as God loves each one of you.
Let us pray. God bless you.
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K. Schembri
Mar 30th 2011, 11:43
And as usual, everyone has a right to free speech ... except Christians!
Audrey Costa
Oct 21st 2010, 22:56
Mother Teresa has made an appeal - she was not forcing her thoughts on anyone but through her message she is shedding further light on the implications of legalising divorce. That may or may not change opinions - there's nothing wrong in that! So it's utterly rude and disgraceful to say 'it's none of her business'.
I proudly say that I totally agree with her - 100% - I made a promise and shall keep it, no ifs and no buts. And yes, our faith helps a lot because it keeps us conscientious - those who TRULY follow Christ should love, endure, forgive - you are unlikely to be abusive or disrespectful.
[Of course I am aware that non believers can do a similar job, and so they should - sadly, I am aware of those who embrace the faith (or they think they do) and do the opposite!]
Anthony Grech
Oct 21st 2010, 15:05
Well I guess that Mother Teresa doesn't need to get a divorce then. Why is my life any business of hers? I didn't tell her how to leave her life why did she find it necessary to tell me how to live mine. I am always amazed that those who are not married can pretend that they could possibly understand what my life is like and how I should live it. She didn't want to get married, good for her, but to try and force her beliefs down my throat is really too much. All these people talking for God, claiming to know the only truth, condemning others, it makes me sick. People should mind there own business and keep there nose in there own life.
yaz tabone
Oct 21st 2010, 17:56
its very simple.. those who don't agree with divorce, just shouldn't go ahead with one! why should it make a difference if their neighbour is still married to their partner or not? well to the maltese it does cos that's their hobby.. interefering in other people's lives.. pathetic!!
charles caruana
Oct 21st 2010, 14:20
@ R Saliba
Ms/ Mr Saliba, I appreciate your appreciation of some of my comments. What I appreciate much less is your patronizing suggestion that I’m on the right path ( thank God!) to discovering that what you kindly call my ‘shouting’ is just the residue of the conditioning in my childhood. That smacks of pop psychology. You are obviously assuming that I am not quite mature enough yet to choose to reject, consolidate, and modify that conditioning, while you obviously are. That smacks of condescension. You assume too much. Let me modestly inform you that I have and have perused hundreds of books about other other religions, philosophies and worldviews in my library, and you are free to come and consult them whenever you wish, without fear. You also assume that what you advised me about is the ‘simple truth’, not just an opinion, therefore binding on everyone no? Therefore like me you are not a relativist, you hold that some truths are universal and worth propounding and defending. You see? Now, psychobabble aside, doing so hasn’t given you temporary relief against your fears , has it?
R. Saliba
Oct 21st 2010, 15:57
We were all conditioned in childhood, no need to be ashamed of that. The problem is when we stay put and do not evolve our thoughts through our experiences and new knowledge. I did assume you were not mature enough reading some of your comments, but i sincerely apologize for that. Sometimes when a comment hurts, the pen is faster than the mind. With regards to simple truths, or universal truths or relativism, the complexity of applying everyday language to morality or science can easily lead us into confusion or contradicition. In a sense we cannot escape the fact that everything is relative to something else (not even morality) And yet, of course that I agree with you that "some truths are universal and worth propounding and defending". And lastly, and surely I am included as well when i said that WE seek somehow to make sense out of our destiny and seek to defeat our fears. It's what makes us human beings, and what may one day unite us more towards our goals, and not confront us through our dogmas.
charles caruana
Oct 21st 2010, 19:27
R Saliba, your gracious apology does you honour, and I accept it with equal grace. Reading, like writing is an art, and when done with intelligence and goodwill, it can save us from hurried assumptions and distorted judgments, helping us communicates and share our experiences better. You seem to be a person one can dialogue with, unlike some hotheads on this thread. My comments are adapted to the attitude of those they are addressed to; with the sensible and respectful critics and interlocutors, believers or atheists alike, I show sensibility and respect. But with those whose ignorance is only equalled by their arrogance, and whose pride hardens their prejudice, I will answer in the only language they can presently understand. Because it suits them, they will then smugly and hypocritically accuse me of failing to follow the ‘meek and gentle’ Jesus, whom many of them usually dismiss as a mythical fairy creature anyway. But who said that Our Lord Jesus Christ was always and with everyone ‘meek and gentle?'
charles caruana
Oct 20th 2010, 19:09
@Mike F Abbot
Mr Abbot, please wipe the froth from your mouth. You know anger is no good for the arteries, both those of believers and of atheists. Didn’t you know that the Catholic Church and the Jesuit province are prime lines of defense for the rights of immigrants in Malta? Do you know that they have provided shelter and found jobs for hundreds of immigrants? Please inform yourself better, or at least take a single immigrant in your home before you spout your mockery, or your froth.
If Mother Theresa's letter fails in its intentions, why are you so het up about it? Is her credibility worrying you? It should, when you compare it to yours. You believe that you are obviously so ‘good and supremely right’ by virtue of your atheist beliefs that you feel you can judge as morally inferior to you the majority of Christians in this country. You even put your self-righteous anger on a par with that of Jesus. Are you on a mission to clean the house of His Father too?
BTW, your anger is not my problem at all, but yours. Remember those arteries.
R. Saliba
Oct 21st 2010, 11:10
You are so right in pointing out that the Church or some people who believe in God can make a positive impact on the world at times. And you're right too when you feel that some so called Atheists simply attack religion and find every opportunity to ridicule the Church and believers. Yet, I think you're on the right path to discover one day that when we shout our religion, we're just shouting what those responsible for our education gave us and fed us, when we were young. And rightly so. So if you believe in the Koran, and your morality is based upon it, I just hope that slowly but surely you'd discover other religions and world views and atheism etc...and so acquire yet a more mature worldview and morality. The simple truth is that we all try to make sense of our lives and the universe, and we have a right to do it (religions, reason, all art forms). But to start believing that WE believe is the Truth and others have to accept it as well wont make that world better for anyone, but only give us a temporary relief against our fears.
Mike F Abbot
Oct 21st 2010, 16:02
did i say anything about the Church not doing anything? no.
You talk about me frothing at the mouth - you should read your own angry pompous mouth frothing rants.
it's not her letter that bothers me, it's arrogant pious people that bothers me. People that can't accept other peoples point of view and can't put a coherent argument together without relying on religious rhetoric. Yes it does bother me and yes i do get angry about it and no i don't need your glib childish 'mind your artery' remarks. grow up.
charles caruana
Oct 21st 2010, 18:31
Mr Abbot, still fuming? Your anger is blinding you to rational argument and giving you temporary amnesia ( there, another pompous word just for you.) Look further down this thread and re-read your ‘angry pompous frothing rants’ against Christian hospitality – the Church is made up of Christians, as you probably know. As for arrogance and people ‘who can’t put coherent arguments together, ’ let’s leave readers of this blog judge that by comparing our entries, for in your self-confessed anger you’re not in the best position to assess that. Thanks for the advice about growing up, there is always room for that. Only, had your anger allowed it, you might have ended your entry on a less ‘glib and childish’ note with a tired cliché.
charles caruana
Oct 20th 2010, 18:31
@Miguel Micallef et al
The sheer ignorance of certain atheists about religious matters which they presume to comment upon is truly astounding. It is a real case of fools rushing in where angels fear to tread. Mr Micallef and the other ‘brights’ who dared to rush into judgment about the spiritual life of Mother Theresa, you are a case in point. Have you ever heard of the ‘dark night of the soul?’ Of course you haven’t, you don’t even know that the greatest saints had these dark nights, permitted by God for their greater purification, where their subjective sense of exile from God was so atrocious as to make your atheism seem child play. Yet they never stopped loving God or neighbor for a single instant. And in the abyss of your ignorance you dare call this hypocrisy! I would recommend St John of the Cross’s book ‘The Dark Night of the Soul’ to all you ‘brights’, were it not that it would be all gibberish to those who in spiritual matters are as blind as bats, and are not humble enough to even acknowledge it.
Miguel Micallef
Oct 21st 2010, 10:45
Mr Caruana,
The only sheer ignorance I can see is of your selective nature. If mother Teresa's statement that she does not believe in the existence of god makes her so pure and saint-like to you, then you have just admitted that I am a saint too.
Just like mother teresa, I do not believe in god, so this makes me extremely holy in your opinion, as you yourself say :
"Have you ever heard of the ‘dark night of the soul?’ Of course you haven’t, you don’t even know that the greatest saints had these dark nights, permitted by God for their greater purification, where their subjective sense of exile from God was so atrocious as to make your atheism seem child play."
Actually, my atheism is not child play. It's as hard as it was in mother Teresa's case. I too am having dark nights. I fail to see the difference between mother Teresa in me. We both don't believe in god.
You think you have an answer for everything don't you? Even if that declares me a saint along the way. The mind boggles. Are you against or with atheists?
charles caruana
Oct 21st 2010, 14:09
Mr Micallef,
I do not know whether to cry or to laugh at the level of your logic and your reading skills. You have shown an uncanny ability to ignore and misconstrue the whole tone and tenor of my post. Did you actually think that I equated your atheism with Mother Theresa’s ‘dark night of the soul?’ If so, it only proves my point that you have absolutely no clue about what said night means. Why not read some Saints’ lives, just as I read atheist books – you might begin to have some glimmerings of the difference. Rest assured, I would never dream of declaring you a saint; I find that almost as incredible and preposterous as declaring myself a saint. Believe it or not I sympathise with your ‘dark nights’, but until you acquaint yourself with the real meaning of sanctity and the dark night of the soul in the saints, our conversation is futile.
Miguel Micallef
Oct 21st 2010, 15:24
We surely agree on that one. Our conversation really is futile. You are selective, and calling me selective. You are seeing me as being selective, and calling you selective.
That's why I am all out for freedom of religion, and secularism. So that you can live your life in your way, and I can live mine, in my way. I hope you can agree with me on this, at least. Otherwise you would just be slipping in the imposing attitude.
B. Cachia
Oct 20th 2010, 17:36
Unfortunately, Christian love, which is what Mother Theresa was talking about, is not something that can be imposed by law. If everyone were to actually have it, our society would be paradise on earth. When we attempt to impose it by law, the only thing that results is the crushing of people's freedom.
victor pulis
Oct 20th 2010, 17:36
Before reading these comments I had never heard of this Christopher Hitchens! Now, I suddenly find myself (according to some) as one of his 'followers! How extraordinary.
Andrew Farrugia
Oct 20th 2010, 13:58
How gratifying it is to have attracted the opprobrium and bile of the Ditchkins' acolytes! Haha, they are going ballistic! Why, one of their more wayward luminaries has ironically appointed himself god (of a sort!) and predetermined my descent into an underworld he does not even believe in. Paradoxically, he has sufficient arrogance to understand the reason/s why i have Faith. No wonder assorted nihilists, humanists and rabid atheists have become a source of great entertainment, just like Lady Gaga.
Karl Farrugia
Oct 21st 2010, 15:38
Yeah, Lady Gaga again, that Roman Catholic singer who considers herself very religious. Well, you have a great person to represent you Catholics Mr. Farrugia.
Miguel Micallef
Oct 20th 2010, 12:34
You show Teresa's letter against divorce. Why don't you also show Teresa's letter affirming she does not believe in God?
For those interested, you can google about it. Mother Terese states that what she did was wear a mask in public, because inside she could not get herslef to believe in the existence of god.
Although I admire Mothet Teresa because she did a lot of humanitarian work, in the religios sphere she showed hypocrisy at its best. Unfortunately, the one solid, defining trait of all Catholics.
J Gatt
Oct 20th 2010, 13:58
Unfortunately lots of web sites state things there are not true. Don't believe everything that is written on the net.
Miguel Micallef
Oct 20th 2010, 15:04
It's a letter from Mother Teresa herself, to the pope. It's not fake. If you want to use the fake card then maybe her letter against divorce is fake too. How about that?
You can't conveniently select what to consider as fake or not. Unfotunately many people still label as fake real news that don't agree with their ideas.
Patrik Larsson
Oct 20th 2010, 15:16
We don't need to quote websites, just read "Come be my light", a collection of letters and correspondence by Mother Teresa herself.
http://www.amazon.com/Mother-Teresa-Private-Writings-Calcutta
Miguel Micallef
Oct 20th 2010, 17:26
The link is dead but I can quote directly from "Come by my light" written by Mother Teresa:
“They say people in hell suffer eternal pain because of the loss of God. ... In my soul I feel just this terrible pain of loss, of God not wanting me, of God not being God, of God not really existing. Jesus please forgive the blasphemy.”
Mother Theresa just wanted to do good to others, as everyone should do. Deep down, and in reality, she was an atheist. This was only made known after her death, of course.
Anyone thinking it's fake or I'm lying, just research. That's why I didn't initally quote but just invited people to look around.
Patrik Larsson
Oct 20th 2010, 19:17
To be honest I'm not sure it's fair to call her an atheist (even though I'm in no implying that it would be a bad thing if she was). She had periods of strong doubt, like I'm sure most people do at times.
She has been jokingly called the patron saint of atheists, but in reality I think I would still classify her as a Christian.
Andrew Farrugia
Oct 20th 2010, 19:23
Your selective and manipulative quote from Mother Theresa's letter to the Pope shows how incapable you are of understanding the profound spirituality of holy people. The doubts of Mother Theresa demonstrate her great faith and it would be futile for me to try to provide you with explanations regarding this phenomenon concerning the weakness of our humanity and the intensity of the Faith of truly holy people.
A.AtTard
Oct 20th 2010, 09:52
'I cannot but pity the man who recognizes nothing godlike in his own nature.''
Jeremy N Grech
Oct 20th 2010, 11:36
What's god like into judging and dividing various sides of society to just to follow a so called religion's moral values? Denying freedom of a new beginning for all sides of the family.... what's god like in that? NEVER preach what you may not be able to practice.
yaz tabone
Oct 20th 2010, 08:16
shocking how the 'athesits'/'non religious' are acting more god-like than the so called "christians". this is known as Maltese-christianity (eg. blaspheming when you can't find a place to park to go to church) - hyprocites!
"If, for some reason, the spouses have to live separately, that has nothing to do with divorce" - so apparently its easier on the kids.. whats the difference?? not all familys stay together, and its WORSE on the kids to be in a family filled with hatred and fights!
charles caruana
Oct 20th 2010, 10:59
I agree perfectly - they ARE acting more 'god-like'. Speaking of being hoisted by your own petard!
gaffarena joseph
Oct 20th 2010, 07:10
Mother Theresa was not married,and cannot talk about this matter.
Those couples that are having problems know exactly abour having a divorce
and in this short life that we are living will try to have a better future.
This issue,should have been settled in parlament,and not by a referendum,and it is a shame
that there will be a referendum on divorce.
Our Prime minister is against divorce(we all are)but the trhing is that with or without sacrament,broken marraiges are on the increase.
All other catholic countries have divorce laws,so why we are different from them.Let these unfortunate couples decide for themselves.Who are we to decide for them,?
The local,political and church authorities have to think twice before interfering about this matter,because both of them will come out as losers.
Joseph Grech
Oct 19th 2010, 21:53
Patrick Larsson and I obviously have different mentors - I dont quite know who his are, but my "no. 1" is Jesus Christ. Everything the Gospels quote Him as having said, is so very fundamentally good and true and stands up to all scrutiny.
If one of Patrick Larsson's mentors is Hitchens, then he should check and realise that it is only Hitchens who quotes that comment about Charles' and Diana's divorce and attributes it to Mother teresa...and no one else. No one...except of course those who quote Hitchens.
Mr Larsson, you too are quoting Hitchens and not Mother Teresa.
I was once a bit like you and other secular humanists...I was searching for the truth and questioning and that's how I came across the One who passed all the tests. I certainly did not judge Him by the weaknesses of His followers - even in His day, one of His own chosen twelve turned traitor, while most of the others were as fragile as you and me and they struggled doubtfully along...until they finally "saw the light". Their human traits never left them however, and they fought them off determinedly till the very end...till they went to their Maker.
Kevin Cassar
Oct 20th 2010, 15:49
I would be very interested in learning the details of the "tests" that your One (Jesus) passed.
You seem to forget that most of us were born here, and so were raised catholic. We then searched for the truth and thus abandoned every ridiculous superstition we had been indoctrinated with.
Patrik Larsson
Oct 20th 2010, 19:18
I'm not sure why people keep dragging me and Hitchens together. I truly enjoy Hitchens writing and I find him both fascinating and admirable, but in no way is he a mentor to me and, I repeat, I have not quoted Hitchens. This connection between me and Hitchens was drawn from absolutely no quote of mine.
charles caruana
Oct 19th 2010, 21:37
@ Patrik Larsson
Yes the froth is certainly coming out of certain mouths, Mr Larsson, especially out of the mouth of those who went apoplectic on reading the simple letter of a poor nun. Is it perhaps because her words and credibility touches millions, while those of the frothing mouths do not reach beyond themselves? Up to your old tricks of selective quotation and misrepresentation Mr Larsson? Do you really believe that Mother Theresa was condoning divorce in her words about Diana? I knew that some of you atheists were literal minded, but not to this extent! And ‘hypocritical stance’ is not a derogatory comment, is it? And you, atheist champion of free speech, would have such derogatory comments suppressed would you? And an atheist like you is an authority on Christian charity, is he?
Mike F Abbot
Oct 20th 2010, 13:59
"simple letter of a poor nun"
oh, cry me a river.
This simple letter is being used to suggest divorce is wrong and clearly it fails at that, even an idiot can see that. And you wonder why people get angry when they read the pious comments from people who claim to be good and supremely right by virtue of their religious beliefs yet it is glaringly obvious there is a lack of example of this good in a country that is supposed to be predominantly catholic and holy. Yes, we get angry when time and time again when commenters try and label anyone who doesn't believe in their religion as evil, ignorant, depraved, immoral etc.
So yes, we're angry. problem with that? or do you want a story from the bible, about Jesus getting angry at money lenders because they had forgotten what their religion was all about, to make it more 'credible'
charles caruana
Oct 19th 2010, 21:33
@Karl Farrugia
Do I really need to ‘crack you up?’ Am I the one who am pointing to others, or is it you who are trying to cut down Mother Theresa to your (and my) puny size? I taking the credit? That is a really cracked statement. It is you and your cronies who credited yourselves righteous enough to negatively judge Mother Theresa. Your explanation of faith and the poor is again risible, but even more pathetic than your previous point scoring.
Karl Farrugia
Oct 21st 2010, 15:23
Crack me up = make me laugh....
Another symptom of Christian extremism: lack of humour. What a boring bunch...
charles caruana
Oct 19th 2010, 20:58
@Raphael Vassallo et al
Since you seem so fond of records and counting, I suggest you put these in your personal Guinness book. They are all choice non- judgmental accolades from your band of brothers which might have escaped your sensitive eye for insults:
Unmarried mother (therefore has no right to speak out)
Coercion
Double talk
Twisting the PM’s arms
Catholic Church represents decadence.
old theresa (who wasn't a mother)
insufferable fools
flogging themselves with thick belts were depraved.
Hypocritical stance
They live Herrod's (sic) lifestyle
God murdered all the firstborn,
God loves the smell of burning animal flesh
blinded by faith
Perhaps presumption is one of your humanist virtues, that is why you presumed to clarify my intention. allow me to presume you have never seen a ‘frothing’ bull, that is why you settle for a cliché? May I suggest you apply your proof reading expertise to the contributions of your brothers-in-arms?
Keep ‘em going, folks. Keep showing us ‘uncharitable Christians’ what a very tolerant and humane religion (no preaching about the use of the word please, the ‘misuse’ is intentional) some of the local humanists and village atheists embrace.
patrick zammit
Oct 20th 2010, 11:52
re:
God murdered all the firstborn,
God loves the smell of burning animal flesh
So do you find actions which bible writers quoted (after being "enlightened" by God) as being an insult to you?
Karl Farrugia
Oct 21st 2010, 15:36
Inquisition, crusades, massacre of the pagans, golden sceptres, golden thrones, billions' worth of works of art...
If that does not represent decadence, I don't know what does Mr. Carunana.
Commentary:
"Unmarried mother (therefore has no right to speak out)"
Was she married? Well it's just stating the facts here.
"old theresa (who wasn't a mother)"
Again, she wasn't a Mother, and definitely not MY mother. I only call my mother a mother.
"flogging themselves with thick belts were depraved."
Another fact. Many a saint did it, and even Pope John Paul II did it. Look it up.
"Hypocritical stance"
This very post I'm commenting on is hypocritical. Thus another fact.
"They live Herrod's (sic) lifestyle"
Refer to first comment.
"God murdered all the firstborn,
God loves the smell of burning animal flesh"
As mentioned by the previous post, these are entries in the Bible. If you don't like them, then you should consider changing religion.
"blinded by faith"
Is there anyone's opinion you respect apart from your Christian overview of the world? That's your answer.
Eric Bugeja
Oct 19th 2010, 20:25
I am also an admirer of Mother Teresa and her words always ring true and to the heart. Her prayers for the Irish on this occasion raise more questions rather than give answers. If a couple give word to each other and must hold on to that promise irrespectively of how circumstances around them change, how can the Church justify the disrobing of a priest or a nun's vows after these had been made directly to God ? Is love not eternal in this instance ? I seek further enlightenment.
Dario Pace Taliana
Oct 19th 2010, 19:46
While being a great leader and inspiration to many, Mother Theresa was a nun - she was never married and never raised a family. With all the respect... what does she know about relationships between couples? What does she know about the subject of divorce? She's never been through it I guess.
If you want to learn to fly airplanes, speak to pilots not bakers.
If you want to learn about divorce, speak to one who has been through it!
D Vella
Oct 19th 2010, 17:52
Far better for Mother Teresa to have built one decent hospital or one decent hospice,she didn't ,but she did open some 500 useless convents all over the globe.Better if she didn't interfere in things she couldn't possibly understand and help the poor and dying she publicised so well.
victor pulis
Oct 19th 2010, 17:08
I have nothing but admiration for Mother Teresa where her work among the destitute of India is concerned but I'm afraid I fail to agree with several of her comments regarding divorce.
"Breaking the vow of marriage to be faithful until death is not only against true love but it also hurts the children in a special way."
Did Mother Teresa have an opinion on annullment and how this affects children?
"
in some cases the mother and father have no time for their children..." This has nothing to do with divorce. A couple can have no matrimonial problems and still neglect their children.
Furthermore, Divorced couples do not necessarily abandon their children. Indeed, in most cases a battle erupts to gain custody of the children.
Contrary to what Mother Teresa believed, prayer doesn't always do the trick, otherwise the church wouldn't accept separation which incidentally is contrary to Jesus's teaching of not putting asunder (separating) that which God has joined together.
Mother Teresa made the mistake of putting divorce before marriage breakdown. Divorce is not the cause but the effect . When a couple files for divorce their marriage is already over as far as they are concerned.
Matthew Ciantar
Oct 19th 2010, 16:53
@ Andrew Farrugia: You're not doing 'your cause' a great service, you know, with the way you write.
Andrew Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 19:25
If you don't like my writing don't read it mate; as for my "cause" -well what can i say, i am quite successful at unmasking the head honchos of the post-modern Ditchkins credo.
Patrik Larsson
Oct 19th 2010, 15:30
Joseph Grech:
My goodness, I can't believe how you get so much wrong in such a short text. Quite an achievment.
For starters, I never quoted Hitchens. I quoted Mother Theresa.
Secondly, Hitchens, in response to your character assassination of him, was voted the fifth most import intellectual in the world, by Prospect Magazine. Is a respected journalist and have a series of praised books behind him.
What words did he attribute to someone not uttering them?
When has he ever tried to prove that God does not exist?
Why do you think he is angry with people who believe in God? On the contrary, he has given great praise and admiration to many religious people and have several times cherished their company.
I can't find of one single thing you got right beyond the first paragraph.
Raphael Vassallo
Oct 19th 2010, 15:28
This must be record. In just two comments, humanists have been insulted no fewer than seven times. Insults include:
‘depraved’
'mob of anti-religious fanatics'
‘raving, frothing bulls’ (presumably he meant ‘raging’, but anyway)
‘moral pygmies’
‘self-righteous Samaritans’
‘world-shaking revolutionaries’
‘puny minds’
Keep 'em coming, folks. Keep showing us 'depraved humanists' what a very loving and caring religion Christianity really is...
Andrew Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 15:18
Gorblimey! The usual gaggle of atheists and motley crowd of Ditchkins supporters spouting their bile on the likes of me. And yet they have the cheek to feel offended, no less. Keep it coming, God-deniers, there is plenty of fire here and will dish it out accordingly.
Karl Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 15:26
That's an easy one Mr. Farrugia. No one is offending you, you are offending us.
We don't use fire, we use reason and reality. But thanks for trying. Please come again.
Patrik Larsson
Oct 19th 2010, 15:36
Yet you didn't even try to engage any of the arguments made, but instead chose to attack atheists and humanists in general.
Do you not find her stance towards divorce hypocritical when you read her support of Princess Diana's divorce, or are you just going to keep your blinkers on and ignore it?
Ronald Cauchi
Oct 19th 2010, 15:10
Never knew that, as a humanist, I was depraved(according to Mr Andrew Farrugia). At 68 thats not bad. I hope I m able to enjoy my depravity for many more years.
charles caruana
Oct 19th 2010, 14:49
I see that the usual mob of anti-religious fanatics are oh so predictably ganging up on the figure and reputation of Mother Theresa, like raving, frothing bulls charging at any holy or sacred mantle waved in front of them. These moral pygmies have the effrontery of judging a spiritual giant like Mother Theresa as falling short of their exalted moral standards, denigrating her for picking up dying human derelicts from the filthy gutters of Calcutta and giving them what no guru in thousands of years thought of doing, the dignity of a human death in caring, loving hands. When was the last time these self-righteous Samaritans took an agonized, disease-ridden stranger from the street and cared for him in their own home? I challenge these world shaking revolutionaries, these armchair lovers of humanity in the abstract, to ask themselves whether they will have the same beneficial impact on the world as Mother Theresa had, whether after their death millions will remember and mention their names with the same reverence and respect that her name and sanctity receive. Mock on mock on, puny minds, like those who scoffed on Golgotha remember? History has already passed judgment on you.
Karl Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 15:03
Well, beneficial or not, they're still living in the gutters swimming in their own filth. What she has done is merely slightly extend their lives by a few years. As I mentioned earlier, she was an advocate of the holiness of poverty, so it was definitely not in her interest to get them out of it. So much so that she went poor herself, go figure.
But hey, thanks for calling us pygmies! As you can see, none of us offended you, but you are shooting offences all over the place. It's good to be a Christian, is it Mr. Caruana?
Atheists - 1
Christians - 0
Patrik Larsson
Oct 19th 2010, 15:35
The froth is not coming from our mouths it seems. I'm actually surprised that such derogatory comments are allowed, painting a whole group of people as moral pygmees, puny minds, frothing bulls, mob etc.
I simply challenged the statements made by Mother Theresa in regards to divorce and her hypocrytical stance taken towrads Princess Diana's subsequent divorce. Feel free to respond to that instead of attacking anyone who doesn't have your worldview.
Again a great example of Christian charity.
charles caruana
Oct 19th 2010, 15:49
Mr Karl Farrugia, have YOU taken in a single one of those ‘still living in the gutters swimming in their own filth’ into your home and taken care of him/her as a human being? Have you even been anywhere close to a single one of them? Have you by any chance set up a world-wide organization aiming to abolish poverty?
Yes she died poor, like the poor man of Assisi. Spiritual poverty, like the holiness of freely chosen poverty, are realities that are simply beyond the ken of the spiritually blind. Don't rush in where angels fear to tread.
As for pygmies and offense, have a look at your own and some of your cronies’ postings; after that, I’m sure you will not take offense easily. I address you in the only language that some of you can understand. I include myself in the ranks of moral pygmies when confronted with the likes of Mother Teresa: the difference is that I know and acknowledge the fact.BTW, your point scoring would be risible, were it not pathetic.
patrick zammit
Oct 19th 2010, 16:47
It is nice to see self confessed Christians refering to non Christians as "pygmies"despite the fact that non Christians did not do anything similar in the first place.
I would have thoght that had that been the case, these self confessed Christians would do as Christ said and turn the other cheek!
victor pulis
Oct 19th 2010, 17:36
I admire mother Teresa for her work among the poorest of the poor in India but I would like to comment on this paragraph in your comment;
" When was the last time these self-righteous Samaritans took an agonized, disease-ridden stranger from the street and cared for him in their own home?"
We couldn't because these strangers were all being cared for in the vatican.
Karl Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 18:24
Hahaha, you crack me up. Incidentally, I don't know a single one of my "cronies". We don't need a unified mind to think for us, Mr. Caruana, we each have our own brains to use, thank you very much.
Well I would like to ask you, Charles, have YOU? Or do you need to point at someone else and take all the credit just because you have the same faith?
None of us (me and my "cronies" apparently) have used that language, and we can understand inoffensive language as well, you might learn. But "learn"? Is that an option when you're so blinded by faith?
You might also learn that faith is strong within poor communities because it's the only hope they have for their otherwise hopeless existence. Thus, by coincidence, Christianity sympathises with the poor. Just like those teleshopping adverts: "I used to be fat, now I'm using Fatbuster and I'm getting laid! If you are fat too, be like me!". Similarly: "I am poor, but I'm happy 'cause some nun told me so! You could be happy too!".
But as the rest have already told you, thank you for proving our point.
Andrew Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 18:58
See Mr Caruana: they're still in the gutter swimming in their own filth, the holy lady merely extended their miserable lives by a few years. No need to imagine the alternative solution some kaisers would have in mind.
Karl Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 21:39
Oh you know how to use Facebook, Mr Farrugia? Impressive!
Anyway, what is YOUR alternate solution then? Pray to God to give us another Mother Theresa?
Mike F Abbot
Oct 20th 2010, 08:13
it's snowing! oh no.. it's just the froth settling.
meanwhile the so called Christian majority of this country are just running to the aid of immigrants when the land in Malta - yep, Jesus said judge first be a Samaritan later.. or was it the other way round? or did he say 'they're probably all thieves & murder here to steal from you and ruin your little island! they deserve no love!"
mm maybe that was it... because the last 2 years of Christian hospitality on this island sure look like that. Can't see the worlds newspapers (or the Vaticans for that matter) calling Malta the Samaritan of Europe.
so, in your own words - go ahead, mock on - History has already passed judgment on you.
This time it's recent, real history.
Mario Attard
Oct 19th 2010, 14:38
While i have respect for the late Mother Teresa, I tend to disagree with certain views she had regarding divorce. Quote, "If, for some reason, the spouses have to live separately, that has nothing to do with divorce." I disagree. Separation has all the same effects on the family as divorce - period. And I'm talking from experience. The only difference is that in separation one cannot remarry. I also don't agree that divorce breaks marriages. No. The marriage is long over before the divorce/separation takes place. Obviously, ideally, all marriages should be successful. But the reality of life is completely different. I am in favour of strict and serious legislation on divorce for those marriages which have failed utterly.
patrick zammit
Oct 19th 2010, 14:15
So, this nun wrote this letter to the Irish, and I highlight this part:
"Besides, a country that accepts divorce will soon have more and more broken families that lead to more disunity... and to more divisions in other families."
Isn't it ironic that the introduction of divorce in Ireland was followed by a drop in marriage breakdowns?
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/0223/1224265038500.html
Mike F Abbot
Oct 20th 2010, 07:58
...and of course, Patrick, your astute observation will be ignored by all those people making similar claims about Malta and divorce
So she wrote a letter, full of claims about what will happen to Ireland if divorce is introduced and it didn't. but we can ignore all that now.... but we can still take the 'good' bits from the letter... right? Yep, let's just ignore the obvious and go with the complicated mystical stuff.
patrick zammit
Oct 20th 2010, 12:00
I find mystical stuff as interesting as fairytales and bedtime stories!
Joseph Grech
Oct 19th 2010, 13:50
Who is this Christopher Hitchens who Patrik Larsson quotes?
Hitchens is a champion of the "new atheism" movement. An idol for humanists but portrayed elsewhere as “a poorly informed zealot, dogmatically peddling an absolute standard of truth based on his own personal philosophy”.
He is the man who described Mother Teresa's organisation as a cult which promoted suffering and that "her intention was not to help people.” He co-produced a television documentary about her called “Hell's Angel” and his publications about her include "The Ghoul of Calcutta" and “The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice”. There’s no love lost in those titles!
Hitchens has as much right as anyone else to express his opinion, but no right at all to attribute words to persons who did not utter them.
He obviously has his own agenda – one desperately trying to prove and argue that God does not exist.
I feel sorry for him and for his “followers” who are so angry at all of us who believe in an awesome Creator God who loves His creation to an incredible extent and who brings such joy to those who trust in Him and seek to make Him their priority.
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 19th 2010, 14:06
"Hitchens has as much right as anyone else to express his opinion, but no right at all to attribute words to persons who did not utter them".
What words did Hitchens attribute to persons who did not utter them? Care to elaborate (with references), or is this just slander?
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 19th 2010, 14:13
While you're at it, can you please show how and where Hitchens is/has been "desperately trying to prove that God does not exist", particularly in view of the fact that most (if not all) atheists, including Hitchens, claim that the non-existance of God cannot be proved just as the non-existance of fairies similarly cannot be proved?
Karl Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 14:24
"Creator God who loves His creation to an incredible extent" that he destroyed it a few times over. Cool story bro.
patrick zammit
Oct 19th 2010, 16:32
"Creator God who loves His creation to an incredible extent"
Is that why God murdered all the firstborn, male Egyptian children (Exods 12)?
Is that also why God loves the smell of burning animal flesh (Genesis 8:20-21)?
Mike F Abbot
Oct 20th 2010, 07:50
"...desperately trying to prove and argue that God does not exist"
hardly a desperate argument. fairies at the bottom of the garden don't exist - the desperate argument is trying to prove they do. Same with God.
"I feel sorry for him and for his “followers” who are so angry"
religious characters have followers... Hitchens just has a point of view.
"at all of us (no... not all of us) who believe in an awesome Creator God (who you can't prove exists) who loves His (sexist - you don't know gods' gender) creation to an incredible extent (such an incredible extent that there are STILL millions in the world dying of hunger) and who brings such joy to (to those people dying of hunger, did i say.... millions?) those who trust in Him and seek to make Him their priority. ( yeh, all those other millions of people through the ages and around the world right now who worship an entirely different God.. or number of gods are all wrong... or maybe you are wrong and it's your God that isn't real?)
Ramon Casha
Oct 19th 2010, 13:46
@Andrew Farrugia: Since when is "Lady Gaga" a spokesperson for humanists? According to herself, she is very religious and a firm believer in God and Jesus.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/02/lady-gaga-on-catholicism/
Not only that, but to equate humanism with decadence makes about as much sense as equating Catholicism with human sacrifice.
Karl Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 14:30
Hey, you're giving him credit here.
renald williams
Oct 19th 2010, 12:53
May those who believe that Jesus is the best solution example;
read His faithful words found in His Gospels, and pray to Him.
For them; Jesus will give them spiritual joy and peace, unconditional and lasting love,
and caring and valued time, especially to the children.
May believers also reflect not to judge or impose on; any breakdown relationships,
especially cases involving violence, alcoholism, abuses, suffering, pain... peace and health.
Andrew Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 12:24
Depraved humanists can only dream about doing an infinitesimal fraction of Mother Theresa's holy work with the sick , poor and destitute of India, which included cleansing and soothing people suffering from bleeding, pus-ridden sores. Shame.
Karl Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 12:42
If only she got them OUT of poverty....
Unfortunately she went by the Christian ethos that the poor and week will rule the Kingdom of Mordor.... I mean Heaven: "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?". So what she did was help them stay poor. Great job, Agnes!
William P Flynn
Oct 19th 2010, 13:00
Go to any hospital any day and there will be nurses doing exactly that - cleaning bloody sores. They're not nuns, they're not Catholics, just people with a vocation to help their fellow man.
For every dedicated Sister Nun and Mother Teresa, you have a hundred fat monsignors, bishops, cardinals and nuncios living in palaces with servants and chauffeures and globe trotting.
They live Herrod's lifestyle not Jesus'.
Andrew Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 13:19
@ Flynn from "down under"
Feeling extremely proud and satisfied to receive negative feedback from the likes of you.
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 19th 2010, 14:03
@ Andrew Farrugia:
Feeling "proud" to be called decadent and depraved by the likes of you. Such Christian charity! You're a fine example for us all.
William P Flynn
Oct 19th 2010, 14:34
@Andrew Farrugia
I'm positively happy that you're happy with my negative. Would you like some more?
And here I was thinking people whipping themselves and flogging themselves with thick belts were depraved.
I've always wondered, how do cilice-wearing Opus Dei members get through the airport security setting the metal detector off?
Andrew Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 16:03
@ Flynn from down under:
You flatter me with so much kindness: would have given/give an arm and an eye to be associated with Opus Dei. Regrettably, i do not possess the qualities required; lack of patience with insufferable fools is one of many defects.
William P Flynn
Oct 19th 2010, 22:01
@Farrugia from fantasy land
Opus Dei wants an arm or an eye as well to join these days? Golly, in the old days it used to be you switched off the brain and the testes, you bought a cilice and you were on your way. It’s the way of the world, I’m afraid. Inflation – you can’t live with it, you can’t live without it.
But look, you’ll get the arm and the eye back when your body reconstitutes after the final judgement in heaven.
The brain and the testes you won’t have any use for; Opus Dei is a good training ground in that regard.
Karl Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 22:03
Superbia - Pride - The 7th deadly sin.
Ira - Wrath - The 5th deadly sin
Give up, Mr. Farrugia, according to your religion, you're on the super-autobahn to Hell. Or you're only Christian because you have to, or feel obliged to because it's your parents' religion.
Kevin Cassar
Oct 19th 2010, 11:27
Yet another EPIC FAIL for belief in the power of praying to immaginary beings. Apart from the fact that old theresa (who wasn't a mother) contradicted herself as the previous messages note, her so called "exemplary charity" consisted of giving the dying a false sense of comfort instead of actually doing anything to help them or heal them.
Ramon Casha
Oct 19th 2010, 11:07
The Irish showed that, despite the majority being Catholic, they valued the common good more than a diktat from celibate men in Rome delivered by a celibate woman from India.
Andrew Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 10:30
Unfortunately, Mr Tagliaferro, the vulgar Lady Gaga has come to represent the decadence of some so-called humanists rather than Mother Teresa. And if i remember correctly, it was Hitchens who tried to assassinate the character of this holy woman by writing some drivel called "The Missionary Position".
Patrik Larsson
Oct 19th 2010, 11:05
Does that negate the argument that she at one hand speak out harshly against divorce, while with the other congratulating the rich and powerful to their divorce?
Karl Farrugia
Oct 19th 2010, 11:07
Mr. Farrugia, it's actually offensive to claim that Lady Gaga (one of the worst artists to walk this Earth in the past 50 years, in my opinion) has any links with humanist values is beyond comprehension. She only has links to making bucketloads of money, and doing drugs (something she actually mentioned herself in an interview). She represents decadence, not humanism. Very much like the Catholic Church represents decadence.
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 19th 2010, 12:07
@ Andrew Farrugia:
Since when has "Lady Gaga" become a spokesperson for Humanists?
Mike F Abbot
Oct 20th 2010, 07:30
clearly Andrew Farrugia doesn't know the first thing about Humanism
JOSEPH ZAMMIT
Oct 19th 2010, 10:25
Quote by CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS:
http://www.salon.com/sept97/news/news3.html
Let me offer examples of two small but related "actions." Two years ago, the population of the Republic of Ireland went to the polls in a referendum. The single issue was the removal of the constitutional ban on divorce. Ireland is the only country in Europe with such a prohibition, and it is also engaged in serious talks with the Protestant minority who fear clerical control of their lives in a future "power-sharing" agreement. For this reason, most Irish political parties called for a "yes" vote. In the concluding stages of the campaign, which was very closely fought, Mother Teresa intervened to urge that the faithful vote "no."
A few months later, she gave an interview to the American magazine, Ladies Home Journal, which reached millions of housewives. She was asked about her friendship with Princess Diana, a friendship which has been evolving over the past several years, and also about Diana's then impending divorce. Of the divorce Mother Teresa said that "It is a good thing that it is over. Nobody was happy anyhow."
So, from Mother Teresa it was sermons for the poor about morality and obedience, but forgiveness and indulgence for princesses.
William P Flynn
Oct 19th 2010, 12:07
I would like to know from Mr Tagliaferro why God didn’t listen to Mother Teresa as the Irish divorce referendum got up. And if he didn't listen to Mother Teresa what hope has any other Catholic of twisting the arm of god about Malta's divorce legislation?
No wonder the bishops and the priests aren't relying on prayer but using coercion, double-talk, and twisting the PM's arm as well.
Terry Gosden
Oct 19th 2010, 10:20
And this from an unmarried 'mother'
Joe Zammit
Oct 19th 2010, 10:04
Par.2385 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
“Divorce is immoral also because it introduces disorder into the family and into society. This disorder brings grave harm to the deserted spouse, to children traumatized by the separation of their parents and often torn between them, and because of its contagious effect which makes it truly a PLAGUE on society.”
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 19th 2010, 12:04
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, by definition, applies only to Catholics.
Joseph Micallef
Oct 19th 2010, 14:08
Then abolish legal separations and church annullments as well!
victor pulis
Oct 19th 2010, 18:47
Doesn't annullment have the same effect on children? And isn't sparation 'putting asunder' what God has joined together? I am not waiting for an answer as usual.
Kenneth Cassar
Oct 19th 2010, 10:02
Wasn't she one who opposed the use of condoms, even in poor and disease-ridden Culcutta?
By the way, apparently God did not take heed of her prayers. Irelend voted yes to divorce legislation.
Carmel Serracino-Inglott
Oct 19th 2010, 21:35
And the result? Look at Ireland,s economy.
Patrik Larsson
Oct 19th 2010, 09:58
Then a few months later, when speaking about Princess Diana's divorce from Prince Charles, she said: "It is a good thing that it is over. Nobody was happy anyhow."
So, the people of Ireland should refrain from divorce, but a member of the royal family seems to have her blessing.