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An Abiding Anguish
Thank you for the insightful and inspirational article describing Mother Teresa's so-called crisis of faith [Sept. 3]. As a moderate Christian, I appreciated the evocation of several tenets of Christianity as well as the references to those of agnosticism and atheism. I stand by the belief that Mother Teresa was as close to God as humanly possible. I agree with writer David Van Biema that a parallel exists between Christ's final moments on the Cross and Teresa's final 50 years, during which she didn't feel the presence of God. In both cases, the acts of self-sacrifice and feelings of abandonment resulted in the most profound contributions to the welfare of human souls. Teresa's life of faith, dedication and commitment despite incredible spiritual trials should be an inspiration to all, regardless of religious inclination.
Barbara Bailey,
Rockledge, Fla., U.S.

It has always appeared to me that deeply religious people use their faith to explain away the horrors and inequities of the human experience. Believing that everything is part of God's master plan affords them the complacency of accepting the most terrible of tragedies. It is with the deepest respect that I read about the struggle of the real Mother Teresa, who, it now appears, had no such crutch. This was a person who soldiered on because she was a good and caring human helping her fellow man endure senseless suffering. If there is a God, Teresa is sitting at his side in heaven.
Diane Brennan,
Flagstaff, Ariz., U.S.

As a pastor and servant of Jesus Christ, I had a strong response to the exposé. It is unbelievable that the Roman Catholic Church would not respect Teresa's wishes to keep her personal struggles confidential. In my 30 years of serving, I have had many similar crises of faith. They are a normal part of the ministry and reflect the human condition. Those of us who serve the Lord Jesus Christ are not superhuman but are ordinary people living ordinary lives serving an extraordinary Saviour. I hope readers can understand that and not discredit all that this wonderful woman of God did with her life.
Chaplain Vincent E. Joy,
Orlando, fla., U.S.

Religious believers often cite feeling God's presence as proof of his existence. Now people point to Teresa's lack of feeling the presence of Jesus as proof of God's existence. These people note her courage in persevering despite severe doubts. If she had been even more courageous, she would have admitted she was an atheist. Helping the poor without a belief in a heavenly reward is one of the greatest aspects of secular humanism.
August Berkshire,
Minneapolis

I have a new respect for Mother Teresa because I now know she did not receive divine pixie dust scattered on her head and daily inspirations from God. The realization that she faced the same doubts that any person of reason faces makes her life that much more extraordinary. Not only is she one of our saints, but like her namesake, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, she may also be one of our greatest saints ever.
Michael A.S. Guth,
Oak Ridge, Tenn., U.S.

As a non-catholic, I found that the article spiritually validated the notion that doubt is inherently necessary to the human condition and serves as the fundamental catalyst that propels altruistic greatness. Mother Teresa's struggle with honest skepticism is a refreshing alternative to the hypocrisy that is so prevalent in organized religion today and has only increased the fondness and affection that I have carried for her.
Gerd R. Naydock,
Wynnewood, Pa., U.S.

I can't imagine how anyone could put into print Mother Teresa's personal feelings. Imagine having your private prayers to God publicized for the world to judge whether you are worthy of Christ. The book of Teresa's letters may be considered an amazing look into her heart and mind, but I see it as nothing more than a travesty.
Deneen Frye,
Philadelphia

I volunteered with the missionaries of Charity for a month in the summer of 2001. I believe that Mother Teresa's letters reveal not a "darkness" but a vulnerability. I can only imagine the mental and spiritual fortitude that a lifelong commitment to oppressed people would demand. Each letter Mother Teresa wrote was an attempt to sustain her spirit as she battled the effects of extreme poverty.
Zachary Davis,
Modesto, Calif., U.S.

Vick's Vice
Michael Vick's cruelty to animals has made him more famous than football alone could have [Sept. 3]. As a veterinary student who has worked in emergency rooms, I can say that the sight of a dog after a fight is horrific. These dogs are missing ears, are covered in excrement and sawdust and are in a state of shock, with a core body temperature that puts them closer to death than to life. Vick deserves everything he gets and more.
Anya Gambino,
Ithaca, N.Y., U.S.

Everybody seems upset at Vick for mistreating dogs, yet where's the outcry over jockeys who beat horses as they race them to exhaustion, rodeo riders who torture calves and bulls, and sled-dog drivers who run their dogs for hours through freezing weather?
Jerry Sturdivant,
Las Vegas

The 9/11 Candidate
Rudy Giuliani has no platform other than the fable he spins of what he did on 9/11 [Sept. 3]. The blood money he has pulled in from speaking engagements and his campaign fearmongering are more than this former Republican can stand. Someone needs to ask Giuliani why he doesn't have the support of many of the 9/11 first responders or their unions.
Jenn Coolidge,
Lakeland, Fla., U.S.

Candidates for high office have to have a theme and a reason for running. If ever a man has met his moment, Giuliani has. You can bet the farm that he will be elected by an overwhelming majority and prove to be one of the truly great Presidents — and world leaders — we have ever known. Just as he was in the face of his opponents when he was mayor of New York City, as President he will confront all the U.S.'s enemies — domestic and foreign — and he will ride roughshod over them, doing whatever it takes to secure America. Thank God for giving us this man at this historical moment. This is not a time for sissies, political posers or come-lately lightweights.
James Harrison Cohen,
New York City

Giuliani and the Republicans keep trying to convince us that only they are tough enough to fight terrorists and keep us safe. To believe that, you have to forget their track record. I seem to recall that on 9/11 the terrorists boarded planes in a state that had a Republican Governor and did their worst damage in a city that had a Republican mayor and a state that had a Republican Governor — all while a Republican was in the White House.
Ron Spiegel,
Philadelphia

Lady Di's Legacy
Why do people still love princess Diana [Aug. 27]? Because she was compassionate, warm and humane. Why are Prince Charles and Camilla unpopular? Because they seem unethical, cold and selfish. Diana left the world an infinitely rewarding message of generosity and kindness.
Akikazu Nagatomi,
Kunitachi City, Japan

Alas, after the death of the princess of Wales, the people I knew were not "snuffling into their tissues." They were shrugging their shoulders over this dim, vastly undereducated clotheshorse, this media creation who had fallen harder for her own myth than even her besotted admirers. As I heard people make ridiculous and wholly unfounded references to Diana's "worldwide humanitarian achievements," as I saw crowds sobbing hysterically over mounds of rotting flowers, I can't say that my opinion of the British (normally quite high) was at all improved. The only thing more bizarre than that week of maudlin lunacy is the fact that, 10 years later, some people are still obsessed by the silly creature, largely, I suspect, because they're obsessed with princess fantasies. Let's hope that once this anniversary is past, they will get a grip, grow up and move on.
Leslie Brown Kessler,
Chicago

Diana mattered not only to Britain but to the whole world, as indicated by the global grief that accompanied her death. Although a princess, she was a humanitarian unequaled in the 20th century who crossed the boundaries of class and race. When I saw her with Mother Teresa, I was struck by the thought that, no matter what walk of life one comes from, sisterly love can be a universal attribute toward which we should all strive. Despite human frailties, she made the world a better place for all.
Sonja Rencken,
Abcoude, the Netherlands

Fruits, Veggies and Vuitton
Re "Paper, Plastic or Prada?" [Aug. 27]: New Delhi has banned thin plastic bags, but thicker plastic bags abound and are choking drains and rivers. Politicians with a vested interest in the plastic-bag industry will never allow a complete ban.
Sourendra Kumar,
Ghaziabad, India

Rather than charging customers for plastic bags, Capers Community Market, a whole-food grocery store throughout greater Vancouver, has a wonderful policy. If you don't need a grocery bag, you are given a discount. You can either receive 5¢ off your purchases or direct your savings to local charities. What a great idea: shoppers can save the environment and support local groups at the same time.
Joanne Wannan,
Vancouver