There will always be varying opinions on anyone in the public eye. There are people who hated people who did great things...Jesus, Ghandi, Martin Luther, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr. (With the exception of Jesus, none of these people were perfect, and they were only human, but many people would say they were corrupted in some way and that whatever they did should not be considered...which is a ridiculous perspective and philosophy). And there are people who loved people who did terrible things...Hitler, Sadam Hussein, Osama bin Laden.

If you read and study the Bible, it might provide an indication for some things she did. The Bible teaches us to forgive..."And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." Mark 11:25. The Bible also teaches us to "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:44. The fact that Mother Teresa visited the grave of someone she could have hated is an amazing gesture of forgiveness and mercy.

There are two Biblical reasons for divorce. One is adultery, which was the basis for the divorce with Prince Charles and Princess Diana. I am not sure whether Mother Teresa commented further on this divorce, but the limited info we have on her comment provided here is not enough to assume that people should get divorced because they are unhappy. I am sure she did not think this, since she was opposed to the legalization of divorce everywhere but vocalized it in the context of Ireland, which was dealing with this issue during that time.

Her ultimate mission to share the gospel with people and make disciples of all nations. Her mission was not political. If you knew how much time she was in the trenches surrounded by sickness and death, you would realize that this was part of her "true intention". She spoke out on the teachings from the Bible, which included abortion and divorce. She was asked by national leaders and others for her opinion about these things, and she gave it.

Do you really think that Mother Teresa was the CEO and CFO of her organization? She probably wasn't in the board room making any major decisions, and she was definitely not using any of the donation money for herself...except perhaps to travel to the places she was serving. She showed the same poverty as those she served.

I have been on mission trips and have friends who have been on medical mission trips, and there are many limitations on what you can bring into certain countries and how much and what you can do for and to people. It would cost millions of dollars just to transport the the food, water and medical equipment to the 123 countries where her ministry was serving people.

Mother Teresa provided something to people who had nothing, and people are still saying she didn't do enough.

What are you doing with what you have?

My personal favorite Mother Teresa moment was when she was asked how she felt about her friend Princess Diana getting divorced and she said "It is a good thing that it is over. Nobody was happy anyhow."

This from the woman who campaigned so hard against the legalization of divorce in Ireland.

(thanks to Hitchens for the direct quote.)

"I did notice some critics ridiculing her for her words of 'forgive, forgive' when she went to some disaster site. Well, as atheists what do we expect one mortal person to do? She obviously wasn't superwoman."

Well for starters how about instead of saying essentially "Let them get away with it, doesn't matter if it happens again because suffering is just marvellous" she could have said "Take those responsible to court and extract the necessary reparations to ensure the survivors have the best medical care available. Oh and while we're at it let's re-examine the laws to make sure this never happens again". You see that's what a truly good person would have done in her position. She just shrugged her shoulders and waved it off, an utterly despicable reaction.

"I find the world's idolization of her no more troubling than the fascination this country seems to have with American Idol."

Persoanlly, I find the whole fascination with "American Idol" (as well as "reality" TV in general) to be very disturbing - these people are more inclined to care about who wins some damn musical competition more than issues that are pertenent to their lives: this nation's failed war on drugs, congressional "pork handouts" (read: bribes) to special interest groups, the ridiculous notion of "social security" (perhaps the government's biggest joke on the people they tax...) and the axes accompanying this program and other entitlement programs, etc...

The mainstream media is just providing distractions - be it with idolized "saints" or pop idols - so that the common man won't suddenly ask why so many of his resources are being wasted on buying votes for the political class.

I would rather see an attack upon the system that creates false idols rather than see us hammer at a deceased woman who from what I can tell was strictly following the tenets of christianity. Even the parts of her that are quoted here as saying that she didn't believe in god are only thoughts of doubt and despair that most of us have at some point in our life. I have been to third world countries and I have seen poverty that many Americans could not imagine and to even think that one person could make a difference is rather idiotic in my opinion.

I did notice some critics ridiculing her for her words of 'forgive, forgive' when she went to some disaster site. Well, as atheists what do we expect one mortal person to do? She obviously wasn't superwoman. Since I did nothing to help in any of those disasters, I will not criticize her.

I find the world's idolization of her no more troubling than the fascination this country seems to have with American Idol.