Freedom from Religion Foundation Calls for Boycott of Mother Teresa Stamp
The FFRF feels that the USPS is violating its own regulations which states, in part:
Another criteria is, of course, that the postage stamps primarily feature American or American-related subjects. President Clinton made Mother Teresa an honorary American citizen in 1996 and the FFRF concedes that she can therefore be considered, but vehemently stresses that another section of the regulations should preclude her:
Mother Teresa was, according to the FFRF, inextricably linked with her Roman Catholic organization, Missionaries of Charity, which was both sectarian and a service/charitable organization. The FFRF further faults the USPS for attempting to identify Mother Teresa as a Nobel Peace Prize winner and humanitarian while avoiding mention of her religious affiliation. However, while the press release does mention the Nobel Peace Prize and Mother Teresa's humanitarian work, it does not "avoid" her religious affiliation but clearly refers to her as "a diminutive Roman Catholic nun." (Gasp! Let's hope this isn't offensive to those of smaller stature.)
The FFRF blames Catholic America for promoting a Mother Teresa stamp: "America's disproportionately powerful Roman Catholic influence undoubtedly accounts for this turn of events. Mother Teresa is on the fast-track to sainthood and the Catholic Church is pulling out all the stops to beatify one of their own."
On his blog in the Houston Chronicle, Pentecostal pastor, Ken Gurley disagrees: "there are precedents for honoring religious individuals who played prominent roles in various social areas. Previous honorees include Malcolm X, Father Flanagan, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr."
When I read FFRF's Action Alert, all I'm seeing is a big anti-Catholic rant, and I don't agree that a "powerful Roman Catholic influence" is behind the Mother Teresa stamp. I think that for most people, Mother Teresa's humanitarian work was something that transcended her religion, while the FFRF attempts to make out a case for a secret agenda of promoting Catholicism on her part. It seems a little ridiculous since proselytizing is certainly not unique to Roman Catholicism and it's hardly a secret. Indeed, the FFRF doesn't seem to see anything wrong with promoting their agenda. It must be because they think they're right.
Whether Mother Teresa was right about her religious beliefs is beside the point of the stamp. She was right about her humanitarian beliefs.
Sources embedded.
Published by Valerie Ferrari - Featured Contributor in Arts & Entertainment and Movies
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12 Comments
Post a CommentI won't support the stamp because she took millions in donations for herself and her anti-abortion campaign without helping the poor in which the donation money was for. She believed suffering allowed them to get closer to god, while at the same time taking the money for the very best in medical treatment when she was suffering. I personally don't care if she was religious or not.
Great article - Mother Tersea was being honored for her humanitarian work. This is a trivial complaint. Great article.
Another great article Valerie. I don't usually buy special stamps, but I will have to make it a point to buy this one. While she was indeed known as a nun, she's being honored for her humanitarian work, not for promoting her faith. (Which she did through her life, not through rhetoric!)
Although I'm not Roman Catholic, I will buy the stamp. She well deserves the honor. The work that she did trancends all religious and secular institutions.
I did not know about this new stamp, thanks for the article!
Agreed Val. Sister Teresa was a humanitarian. Yes! for the stamp. You don't have to buy it. It does not support the Catholic church. Some groups formed to rant need to be more "humanitarian".
She was also a humanitarian. This anti-religious stuff sometimes goes way too far and this is a great example of it.
I really don't see all the controversy. Mother Teresa's humanitarian work spoke for itself. Even though most of her good works stem from her core religious beliefs, MT was never about promoting Catholicism, which is why I think most people regard her as a humanitarian above all. I guess it depends on how she is portrayed on the stamp. Unless there are no overtly religious symbols surrounding her image, then this should really be a non-issue.
Gaylor really went overboard on this. I agree that her action alert reads like a hateful rant. Poor Mother Teresa. Remember when she died right after Princess Diana? She deserves this honor (and many others) untainted by the exaggerated and distorted ravings of Annie Gaylor.
It's unfortunate that an organization such as the FFRF would dishoner the humanitarinism of Mother Theresa simply because of her beliefs. Her work transcended religious 'pidgeon-holing' and should be honored. The FFRF should make better use of it's time and resources in constructive ways. They're being really quite silly.