Atheists attack Mother Teresa (Say she's not worthy of memorial stamp)

wnd ^ | January 25, 2010 | Bob Unruh

[NYer]

A prominent atheist organization in America is attacking Mother Teresa as unworthy of being honored with a memorial stamp, as the U.S. Postal Service has announced.

In fact, the Freedom From Religion Foundation is advocating that its constituents "vote with your pocketbook, and boycott these stamps."

The group also suggests, "If this choice of a polarizing Roman Catholic figurehead or the Post Office's flagrant violation of its own policy distresses you, let the Post Office know (by mail or e-mail) … Or make this the subject of an educational letter to the editor, or simply use this opportunity to enlighten friends and colleagues about the darker side of Mother Teresa's religious activism."

The Pacific Justice Institute, which engages in battles regularly on behalf of civil rights and the nation's Christian heritage, immediately launched its own campaign urging support for the stamp.

"We didn't want theirs to be the only letters," Matthew McReynolds, the organization's associate counsel, told WND.

Pacific Justice said it will send the Postal Service a letter offering legal support for the Mother Teresa stamp if it is needed.

The organization said its constituents could dispatch supportive comments via the USPS website, or they could write to:

Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
Stamp Department, USPS
1735 N. Lynn Street, Suite 5013
Arlington, VA 22209-6432

or

Consumer Advocate
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 10433
Washington, D.C. 20260-2200M

"Just when you think atheists and anti-religionists have run out of things to complain about, they attack Mother Teresa, one of the great role models of the last century," said PJI President Brad Dacus. "We are encouraging anyone who has been inspired by Mother Teresa to join us in writing letters of appreciation to the U.S.P.S to counter the ridiculous complaints they are receiving from the FFRF."

[massgopguy]

Don’t overlook Gene Autrey. He sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. A polarizing Christmas song. Written by a Jewish guy.

[AnAmericanMother]

Hope you have a better source for that than Christopher Hitchens.

[OneWingedShark]

>Can non-Americans be portrayed on U.S. postage?

Don’t/didn’t we have Santa Clause stamps?

[Guardian Sebastian]

Are you suggesting that Mother Teresa is responsible in some way for the poverty in Haiti? I’m speechless.

[Guardian Sebastian]

Are you suggesting that Mother Teresa is responsible in some way for the poverty in Haiti? I’m speechless.

[Liberty Valance]

I'm still waiting for the Jack Elam stamp.

[-YYZ-]

Just a reminder to everyone: most atheists do not belong to any sort of organization, and these organizations do not represent the views of most atheists. This atheist, for one, certainly thinks that Mother Teresa is deserving of being honored on a stamp.

[GunRunner]

A source for what, the Duvaliers?

[GunRunner]

For helping to prop up the Duvaliers.

[AnAmericanMother]

Yeah, and the idea that Mother Teresa is somehow responsible for the awful situation in Haiti.

(I lived there for a short time in the 60s).

[ari-freedom]

[namvolunteer]

I was thinking of this last week when the Left attacked Pat Robertson. Turns out, Robertson has been operating a charity hospital in Haiti for many years.
I wonder how many of his critics helped Haiti more than Robertson has?

[Campion]

who finds Mother Teresa “polarizing?”

I don't think she was real popular with abortionists.

[GunRunner]

Never claimed she was solely responsible, that would be ridiculous.

But surprised to see that no one brought up the criticism considering what's going on there now.

[AnAmericanMother]

Baby Doc was already on his way to being thrown out, by the early 80s he had alienated most of his father's supporters and his wife was irritating everyone else. Mother Teresa receiving an award, saying a few nice words about Mme Duvalier (and getting a bunch of money to help the poor) probably had no effect one way or the other on Baby Doc's tenure. Of course, JPII was practically calling for his resignation around that time, that probably had more effect than anything Mother Teresa did or didn't do.

And if you wanted to help the poor in Haiti, you had to work with the regime. I can remember seeing C.A.R.E. packages that had been relabeled "Gift of Madame Duvalier" (that would have been Simone, Papa Doc's wife).

[pnh102]

What atheist group has done more to bring attention to and relief for world?

What you talking about? Athiest World Relief, alongside Athiest Charities and the Atheist Orphans' Fund have been on the ground in Haiti since the time the quake struck and they are giving all their man-given talents to provide comfort to the victims. :)

[GunRunner]

So you think it was the right thing to do? I don't agree. I think the family was trying to buy the appearance of being charitable and using her to do it.

The Pope came a few years later and told Duvalier to clean up his act. I doubt things had changed much in two years, so he probably wasn't seeing anything MT hadn't.

[This Just In]

“...her ties to the Duvalier family....”

Associate doesn’t automatically equal support for atrocities. Provide sources.

If Mother Teresa was one of the reason Baby Doc rose to power, I’ll be surprised. I’d like to see irrefutable proof.

[mlizzy]

Beautiful photograph, thank
you! And I'd definitely
purchase numerous stamps with
her image on them. What an
incredible woman and lover of
the poorest of the poor. My husband just told me she
"opened up shop"
(Missionaries of Charity) on my
birthday. It made my day!

[This Just In]

((((laughing))))