SCIENCE 3 LAST

Similarly the two miraculous medical recoveries attributed Similarly the two miraculous medical recoveries attributedto Mother Teresa would have a rational medical explanation butto the believers faith over powers science. It is high timethe Catholic Church gave up this requirement of a personhaving performed at least two miracles after death to becanonised into sainthood. Reform seems to be taking place in the church sinceearlier there was a requirement of more miracles to have beenrecorded and there was a mandatory 50-year waiting period fora person to be declared a saint, but in Mother Teresa’s casethat has been waived and she would be officially grantedsainthood within two decades after her death. This is indeed amiracle by the conservative church. Most Indians will be celebrating the elevation of SaintTeresa with Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swarajrepresenting the might of the Indian Constitution at theaugust ceremony, yet there are a few who question therationality of such exercises. Speaking on these issues, Prabir Ghosh, president of theScience and Rationalists Association of India from Kolkata,said, "If people want to revere Mother Teresa for her socialwork, I have no problem. But these miracles are unreasonable.I challenge the Pope to cure every poor person in India whocannot afford medical care, by praying to Mother Teresa." On the other hand, Rao is also fellow of the PontificalAcademy of Sciences, and on being asked about this issue ofMother Teresa being made into a Saint and how does he justifymiracles and science, he points out: "Pontifical Academy hasnothing to do with the Pope in this way. Pope deals with thechurch and the church has made her a saint. Pontifical Academydoes not deal with Saints." Towards lasting peace, Rao has a simple solution: "Do notmix religion and science." According to an official release from the Pope’s Office,in her own life time Mother Teresa said, "What the poor needmost is to feel needed, to feel loved. There are remedies andtreatments for all kinds of illnesses, but when someone isundesirable, if there are no serving hands and loving hearts,then there is no hope for a true cure." It is for these reasons attributing scientificallyunproven remedies as miracles does not help the followers ofMissionaries of Charity and humanity in general. For the thousands of destitute that Mother Teresa treated,she was ‘god incarnate’ and her hand was the miracle of lovethe poor needed. PTI COR ZMNDIP