Q&A about Fraud and Scams

Regarding Mother Teresa's Name and Illicit Fundraising

How do the Missionaries of Charity protect Mother Teresa’s personality rights as her legal successors?

Mother Teresa is a well-known public figure. Her identity cannot be misused or misappropriated. In general, any kind of unauthorised commercial exploitation of renowned personas is a violation of their personal rights.

Mother Teresa herself had made a formal and legal statement in 1984, stating “the exclusive right to control the use of my name should be vested in my successor…in the office of Superior of the Missionaries of Charity.”
Even during her lifetime Mother Teresa refused to allow other individuals and organisations to use her name or image in connection with the raising of funds.
Mother Teresa wrote press statements in which she appealed to the public not to use her name, words and image in connection with raising of funds, expressly mentioned in a public statement on October 1993.
The name Mother Teresa has been registered in the name of Missionaries of Charity under Trades Mark 1999 under various categories.

Which is the official and genuine Order founded by Mother Teresa?

The Missionaries of Charity are the only Foundation founded by Mother Teresa. The Missionaries of Charity is a Catholic Religious Institute founded by Mother Teresa on 7^th October 1950, dedicated to the service of the poorest of the poor on the streets and in the slums.

What is the authentic legacy and values that Mother Teresa left behind?

Mother Teresa always upheld the value that every human person is created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, out of love for God, she reached out to everyone who was in need irrespective of caste, creed, religion or language. Mother Teresa depended solely on Divine Providence in her service of the poorest of the poor. She was never involved in political or big social projects but her aim was only to restore to each human person their human dignity since she saw God in every human person. She left the security of the Loreto convent where she held the position of a teacher and Principal and went into the street having no shelter, no company, no helper, no money, no employment, no promise, no guarantee and no security. She never sought her personal gain in any endeavour but gave herself selflessly in the service of the abandoned, the lonely and all those rejected by Society on the streets and in the slums. She always insisted to her future followers that all we do is for God. We are first of all religious; we are not social workers, not teachers, not doctors, we are religious Sisters. We serve God in the poor. We nurse Him, we feed Him, clothe Him, visit Him, comfort Him in the poor, the abandoned, the sick, the orphans, the dying. But all we do our prayer, our work, our suffering is for God. Our life has no other reason or motivation.

Mother Teresa wished the organisation to rely only on Divine Providence for all their needs in the service of the poorest of the poor. She never wanted her name or image to be used in connection with raising of funds as she expressly mentioned in a public statement on October 1993. Even during her lifetime she refused to allow other individuals and organisations who wished to use her name or image in connection with the raising of funds. The Missionaries of Charity uphold the values of Mother Teresa and do not conduct any fundraising activities, relying solely on Divine Providence in the form of freewill offerings .

Mother Teresa vested the right to control the use of her name to her successor in office of Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, to whom she bequeathed her legacy.

What is the response of the Missionaries of Charity to the various organisations who are unlawfully using Mother Teresa’s name and image for their financial gain?

Mother Teresa dedicated her life to the humble service of the poorest of the poor. She chose not to allow her name to be used for fundraising, commercial activities, or publicity efforts. Mother Teresa did not authorize any individual or organization outside of the Missionaries of Charity to use her name for charitable, promotional, or fundraising purposes.

Any unauthorized use of Mother Teresa’s name or likeness in promotional materials or appeals for donations misleads the public and violates the principles she embraced. The Missionaries of Charity are informing and making painstaking effort to stop these organizations, however our appeals often remain unheeded.

How is the mission of the Missionaries of Charity supported?

The Missionaries of Charity do not fundraise or permit any individual or group to fundraise on our behalf. This practice is in keeping with Mother Teresa’s lifelong reliance on ‘Divine Providence’. We rely solely on the free will offerings of those who are moved to support our mission. In keeping with Mother Teresa’s spirit and ideals the Order of Mother Teresa, Missionaries of Charity never make appeals of ‘SEND DONATIONS’ or ‘DONATE ONLINE’ on their websites.

What is your advice to the public with respect to some organisations, for example, the Mother Teresa Charitable Trust and Mother Teresa Foundation, who are misleading the public into believing that they are part of the Missionaries of Charity?

The public is respectfully urged to exercise caution and verify authenticity before associating with or contributing to any organization claiming an association with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity. We further appeal to all concerned individuals, institutions, and governments to support our efforts to honour Mother Teresa’s legacy and ensure that her name is not used in ways that go against her wishes or misrepresent her ideals.

For authentic information kindly visit https://missionariesofcharity.org or www.motherteresa.org of the Missionaries of Charity.

What is the name of Mother Teresa's Trust?

Mother Teresa never established any Trust in her own name, nor did she allow any Foundations or Trusts using her name for fundraising, commercial activities, or publicity efforts.