The Conspiracy Theories Around Mother Teresa — And Why They Don’t Hold Up to Scrutiny
Mother Teresa, canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2016, is globally recognized for her humanitarian work with the poor and dying in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). Yet in India — particularly among right-wing circles — she is also the subject of persistent conspiracy theories. These range from allegations of forced religious conversions to accusations of child trafficking and misusing donations.
Despite the lack of verifiable evidence, these narratives continue to circulate, fueled by social media, political rhetoric, and ideological hostility toward missionaries and NGOs. This article examines the most common claims made against Mother Teresa and contrasts them with facts, data, and independent investigations.
1. Claim: Mother Teresa Was Running a Massive Conversion Racket
The Theory:
Mother Teresa’s work with the poor was merely a façade for mass conversions to Christianity. Some claim that the Missionaries of Charity (MoC), the organization she founded, exploited vulnerable people — especially Hindus — by converting them on their deathbeds.
The Facts:
- No credible evidence exists that the Missionaries of Charity engaged in forced or coercive conversions.
- The MoC’s facilities did not require patients to convert or adopt Christian practices. In fact, many people served by the MoC remained Hindu or Muslim.
- Prominent Indian figures such as Khushwant Singh, a Sikh agnostic and critic of religion, praised her work and never mentioned any evidence of conversion pressure.
- Indian government records and multiple court cases have never proven any systematic conversion activity by MoC.
- In a 2011 statement, the MoC said:
- “Our rule forbids us to convert anyone. Mother herself said: ‘Our job is not to convert. Our job is to love.’”
2. Claim: She Was Glorifying Suffering Instead of Alleviating It
The Theory:
Mother Teresa allegedly believed that suffering brought people closer to God and, therefore, did not provide adequate medical care or pain relief to patients. Some critics argue that she was more interested in martyrdom than modern healthcare.
The Facts:
- This criticism originated from Christopher Hitchens’ book The Missionary Position, which portrayed her work as deeply flawed and ideologically rigid.
- While Hitchens raised concerns about hygiene and medical standards in MoC homes, independent journalists and investigators found no malice or agenda — rather, a lack of resources and medical training.
- The facilities were not meant to be hospitals. They were hospices for the dying, offering dignity and basic care to people who were otherwise abandoned by families or hospitals.
- In her time, Kolkata had limited infrastructure for terminal care. Her model filled a massive gap in public health, especially for the most marginalized.
3. Claim: She Misused Foreign Donations
The Theory:
Critics argue that Mother Teresa received millions in donations but did not use them to improve healthcare facilities or expand her operations transparently.
The Facts:
- The Missionaries of Charity maintain a vow of poverty, and the organization is audited annually in accordance with Indian laws for NGOs.
- The money was reportedly used across 130+ countries, supporting homes for leprosy patients, orphans, AIDS patients, and the elderly.
- Indian government agencies, including the Income Tax Department and Home Ministry, have not found financial misappropriation in public audits of MoC.
- The organization does not hoard money; funds are deployed modestly to maintain a frugal model of service.
4. Claim: She Was Involved in Child Trafficking
The Theory:
One of the most inflammatory conspiracy theories accuses Mother Teresa’s order of engaging in illegal adoptions or child trafficking.
The Facts:
- The 2018 adoption controversy involving Missionaries of Charity in Jharkhand involved two individuals, not the organization as a whole. MoC immediately distanced itself from the employees involved and cooperated with police.
- The case was used politically to attack Christian charities in India, but no link to Mother Teresa or her leadership was ever established.
- The MoC ceased all adoptions in 2015, citing bureaucratic red tape and ideological differences with India’s changing adoption laws, particularly those that mandated non-discrimination toward single or divorced individuals.
Why These Myths Persist
- Religious Polarization: In a climate of rising Hindu nationalism, Christian missionaries are often painted as a threat to Indian culture, regardless of their actual activities.
- Political Rhetoric: Politicians like Yogi Adityanath and Subramanian Swamy have made public remarks alleging conversion motives, lending legitimacy to fringe theories.
- Social Media Echo Chambers: WhatsApp forwards and YouTube videos from pseudo-historical influencers often repeat the same falsehoods without citations.
- Western Critiques Misused: Valid criticisms from Western writers like Hitchens have been selectively misquoted or decontextualized by Indian right-wing groups.
Conclusion: A Legacy Larger Than Rumors
Mother Teresa’s legacy, like that of any global religious figure, is not without complexity. But most of the conspiracy theories that surround her are based on ideological discomfort with her faith, not evidence of wrongdoing. Her life’s work — serving the dying, lepers, orphans, and abandoned — filled a vacuum left by the state and society.
Criticism is healthy. But distortion is dangerous. It’s time we examine her legacy with clarity, not conspiracy.
