Does Mother Teresa belong to the world or exclusively to her Order? Church representatives and theologians here are debating this question as the Kolkata-based Missionaries of Charity (MC) has moved for legal protection on the use of Mother’s name.On Tuesday, an MC spokesperson said the organisation has already been granted copyright for its logo. The certificate of registration from the copyright office under the HRD Ministry has reached the Kolkata headquarters, she said.‘‘Even during her lifetime, Mother had observed that some organisations in South India were using the logo of MC for running schools and other charity organisations without sanction. Since Mother wanted that the logo be protected under law, this step has been taken,’’ she said.Apart from Mother’s name and logo, the MC has demanded legal protection for the Order too in a procedure which is the first of its kind. But church representatives feel Mother belongs to the world and not to her Order alone.‘‘It is more like patenting Jesus Christ. Mother Teresa is a candidate for sainthood and not a product or private property,’’ says Fr Paul Thelekkat, official spokesperson of Syro Malabar Church. He adds that Mother’s name, works and ideals are to guide the world. ‘‘But they may be doing it for the right reasons as somebody will be using the name for money,’’ he says.So far, there has not been any law in the Roman Catholic Church that prohibits the use of a saint’s name by people or organisations. And as Mother Teresa’s name has become synonymous with charity and service, many hospitals and social organisations in Kerala have adopted the name. But the MC has been finding it difficult to make the public aware of organisations who have been making money using Mother’s name.‘‘There have been incidents in Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram where people floated organisations in the name of Mother Teresa simply to make money,’’ says Sr Angelotte, regional superior of MC in Ernakulam.As details of the procedure have not yet been publicised, most church officials refrain from reacting to the move. ‘‘There has been no such move before and we have not yet been informed about the details. But it will stop using the Mother’s name for commercial purposes,’’ said a representative of Kochi diocese. Moreover, church authorities know they cannot impose anything on MC as it took recourse to civil law to safeguard the use of the Mother’s name.
