I'm interested in fact not rumour
Friday October 23 2009
Ian O'Doherty writes that Mother Teresa was a "charlatan" and "a master of her own mythology" and "regarded as a saint, but not by anyone who has read Christopher Hitchens' brilliant polemic, 'The Missionary Position', where he exposed her lies, deceit and hypocrisy" (Irish Independent, October 22).
I read this eloquent polemic some years ago but I'm not easily seduced by stylish, slick prose. I'm more interested in facts. Hitchens often makes reasonable statements and is a fine writer on matters political, but it's a pity he's an angst-ridden atheist with an anti-religion agenda, which is unhealthy for legitimate secular debate.
Hitchens makes lots of allegations in 'The Missionary Position', some true, some questionable, but if my memory serves me right, I'm almost sure there are no footnotes in his polemic.
I have an open mind on Mother Teresa's complex life, and some of the things written about her could be rumours. I don't believe everything I read just because it suits my world view.
If Hitchens' stylishly well-written polemic was of sound, scholarly merit, which it's not, then it would be reasonable to take it on good faith.
Atheistic fanaticism, just like its religious counterpart, is intellectually immature.
Kenneth Francis
Malahide, Dublin
Irish Independent
