In her article “No Humanitarian,” Mary Poplin who spent two months
working as a volunteer, described the rough conditions of Mother Teresa’s
medical facilities:Like many Western visitors, I initially found the experience
disorienting. Despite Mother Teresa’s repeated reminders that
the order’s mission is religious, not social work, most Western-
ers who visit the homes for sick and handicapped children ex-
pect them to look like medical clinics or hospitals. They don’t.
Most shocking is the absence of hospital-like procedures and
equipment. This can be particularly disconcerting for people
who have worked in hospital settings in America and Eu-
rope.... Surely, given Mother Teresa’s fame, such equipment
was available?.... The Missionaries of Charity, one learns, re-
sist owning anything, even medical equipment that is not
widely available to the poor.^13PUTTING HER HOUSE IN ORDER
By the mid-1990s, Mother Teresa was fighting not only ill health but
also the growing criticism of her mission. Any ideas she may have had
about retiring were now out of the question. Her seemingly contradictory
actions and world fame had put her in an uncomfortable position. Yet, she
also relied more fully on the advice and support of the other sisters, some
of whom believed that Mother Teresa was trying to get her affairs in order.
In May 1993, Mother Teresa traveled to Belgium where she was to help
celebrate a gathering of Co-Workers. Because so many volunteers were
going to attend the meeting in Antwerp, they decided to hold a meeting
of the governing body to discuss a Co-Worker chapter that had been
planned for San Diego the following year. Many believed the gathering in
Antwerp would be a good opportunity to address the organization about
some of her concerns.
Mother Teresa was scheduled to speak on May 8; however, the evening
before, Brother Geoff, General Servant of the Missionary Brothers, an-
nounced to the assembly that allegations had been made against the Co-
Workers for misuse of funds; monies that should have gone to the poor
were thought instead to have been spent on Co-Workers’ travel expenses,
newsletters, and postage. He then informed the stunned audience that
Mother Teresa was going to dissolve the Co-Workers organization the
next day and cancel the San Diego chapter.
“THE MOST OBEDIENT WOMAN IN THE CHURCH” 131