From compassion to justice: exploring Mother Teresa's influence on modern legal frameworks

Sara Ahlin Doljak

Authors

Sara Ahlin Doljak Nova Univerza

Keywords:

Mother Teresa, Human rights, Social justice, Missionaries of Charity, Dignity, Equality, Legal frameworks, Humanitarianism, Vulnerable populations

Abstract

Mother Teresa remains a distinguished figure in philanthropy, renowned for her unwavering commitment to marginalized groups, particularly impoverished children, and her dedication to human rights and dignity. Through the establishment of the Missionaries of Charity, homes for the chronically ill, and shelters for abandoned children, she championed social justice, equality, and compassion. Her legacy inspired and continues to influence modern legal and social frameworks that emphasize human rights, dignity, and social equity. This paper explores the intersection of her humanitarian principles with contemporary legal protections for vulnerable groups, advocating for a holistic approach to social justice. Despite laws in place to safeguard human rights, Mother Teresa’s work highlights the need for compassionate, hands-on efforts to supplement these frameworks. By analysing her life and contributions, this study suggests a collaborative approach between legal systems and humanitarian actions to uphold dignity, justice, and equality.

Author Biography

Sara Ahlin Doljak, Nova Univerza

ORCID: 0009-0008-9225-234X
DOI: 10.12800/vg.20.7

References

Alpion, Gëzim. “Why Are Modern Spiritual Icons Absent in Celebrity Studies? The Role of Intermediaries in Enhancing Mother Teresa’s Advocacy in India and Australia Prior to the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize.” Celebrity Studies, vol. 11, no. 2, 2020, pp. 1–29.

Bankston, Carl L. “Social Justice: Cultural Origins of a Perspective and a Theory.” The Independent Review, vol. 15, no. 2, 2010, pp. 165–178.

Bonilla-Silva, Eduardo. “The New Racism: Racial Structure in the United States, 1960s–1990s.” Race, Ethnicity, and Nationality in the United States, Routledge, 2021, pp. 55–101.

Day, Thomas. A Liminal Citizenship: Race, Slavery, and the Law in the Early Republic, 1776–1813. PhD dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2023.

European Court of Human Rights. Christine Goodwin v. the United Kingdom. HUDOC, 11 July 2002, hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-60596.

European Union. Justice and Fundamental Rights. 2024, european-union.europa.eu/priorities-and-actions/actions-topic/justice-and-fundamental-rights_en.

European Commission. Germany – Guaranteed Minimum Resources. n.d., ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1111&intPageId=4556&langId=en.

Fennelly, David, and Clíodhna Murphy. “Racial Discrimination and Nationality and Migration Exceptions: Reconciling CERD and the Race Equality Directive.” Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights, vol. 39, no. 4, 2021, pp. 308–328.

Fetter, Daniel K., and Matthew Pesner. The Expansion of Social Security and the Decline of Elderly Public Assistance. Technical report, University of Michigan, 2021.

Government Equalities Office. Equality Act 2010: Guidance. 2013, www.gov.uk/guidance/equality-act-2010-guidance.

Kushi, Sidita. “A Voice of Peace: Mother Teresa.” The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research, vol. 9, no. 1, 2007, pp. 8–12.

Light, Michael T., Jingying He, and Jason P. Robey. “Comparing Crime Rates Between Undocumented Immigrants, Legal Immigrants, and Native-Born US Citizens in Texas.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117, no. 51, 2020, pp. 32340–32347.

Mili, Arup Chandra. “Utopian Thought of Mother Teresa: A Way of Devotion to Human Life.” Polity, Economy, and Culture of North-East India: Issues and Challenges, n.d., pp. 1–435.

Morariu, Iuliu-Marius. “Educational Aspects in the Spiritual Autobiography of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.” Astra Salvensis – Magazine of History and Culture, vol. 7, no. 14, 2019, pp. 307–312.

Morariu, Iuliu-Marius. “Aspects of Political Theology in the Spiritual Autobiography of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.” HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies, vol. 6, no. 1, 2020, pp. 1–5.

Nietsch, Julia. “Reinventing Health and Social Care in Kosovo in the 1990s: The Role and Legitimation Strategies of the Mother Teresa Society.” Qualestoria. Rivista di storia contemporanea, vol. 50, no. 2, 2022, pp. 73–106. EUT Edizioni Università di Trieste.

Novikov, Evgeny. “Does Sickness Have a Meaning?” International Political Anthropology, vol. 14, no. 2, 2021, pp. 125–139.

Sweeney, Jon M. Teresa of Calcutta: Dark Night, Active Love. Liturgical Press, Collegeville, 2022.

Trykhlib, Kristina. “The Principle of Proportionality in the Jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights.” EU and Comparative Law Issues and Challenges Series (ECLIC), vol. 4, 2020, pp. 128–154.

Venice Commission. Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia. 2000, www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/?pdf=CDL(2000)059-e.

Verachai, Mantana I. Mother Teresa: A Woman of Prayer. Lap Lambert Academic Publishing, Saarbrücken, 2002.