Posted by marina on March 29, 2002 at 12:01:02:
Sometimes I think how a person like Andrea Yates, with susceptibility to mental illness, could have lived a 'normal' life getting the proper care and without too much daily stress (5 kids + a miscarriage in 7 years most living in a BUS, in relative isolation) without being duped into HAVING to submit to a crazy husband and religious leader, all in the name of "god."
I have seen women in the F distressed to no end, with repeated pregnancies they could not 'stop.' Some of them got that zombie look in their eyes, no doubt a form of dissociation to be able to cope. I have seen women cry their eyes out and being always afraid of getting pregnant whenever they had sex they did not even enjoy (wonder how many of them faked?) fearing, only fearing a god that did not love them and seemed to want them to be baby factories instead. It seemed their body was not even theirs. It belonged to everyone else: the fish, the 'brothers,' the 'husbands,' the 'prophet,' the children who were innocent victims, a "god" who had no mercy, etc. etc. There is no 'love' and no 'god' in a religion that only subjugates and enslaves.
*****
ABC13 Eyewitness News
(3/28/02) — His fire and brimstone teachings have been blamed for Andrea Yates' decision to drown her children, but the controversial preacher is firing back.
Michael Woroniecki says Russell Yates should take some responsibility.
Michael Woroniecki travels the world preaching the word of God. He yells, he screams, he uses silly masks, but he says it's all for the message. He says Russell Yates heard that message, but then to Andrea's detriment, distorted it.
Michael Woroniecki/Yates' preacher: "This was a woman who was trying to do everything to care for her children."
Today, Michael Woroniekci is sympathetic towards Andrea Yates. But for years, he told her she was doomed unless she found Jesus.
Michael Woroniecki/Yates' preacher: "Yes - I tell people that they're sinners, that they are going to hell."
Woroniecki says it's his calling. He and his wife and six children live in a bus, travel the world, and use unusual methods like a harsh props to preach the bible.
It was more than a decade ago when he met Russell Yates.
Michael Woroniecki/Yates' preacher: "He was just a neat guy that we loved and shared with about Jesus."
According to Woroniecki, Russell quickly subscribed and convinced his wife-to-be, Andrea, to do the same. The couples became friends. Andrea would even send the Woroniekcis care packages. In return, they'd send her letters warning about Satan and getting right with God. Woroniecki says Andrea was on track, but Russell wasn't.
Michael Woroniecki/Yates' preacher: "Rusty said he was going to follow the Lord and he didn't."
Instead, Woroniekci says Russell just tried to emulate his life. He called his children Bible names, just like the Woronieckis, eventually lived in a converted bus, and Andrea homeschooled their children just like Woroniekci's wife, Rachel.
All the while, Woroniecki says it was the environment Russell condoned and not Satan who helped drive Andrea over the edge.
Michael Woroniecki/Yates' preacher: "Satan doesn't come into a person and take over them, Satan didn't take over. Andrea was put in a pressure cooker she could not bare and made the wrong choice."
Once his spiritual confidant, now Woroniecki is one of Russell Yates' toughest critics and he's still waiting to hear from Russell about his own role in his family's fate.
Michael Woroniecki/Yates' preacher: "I would have loved to hear Rusty say after the whole trial is, 'Concerned people I made a horrible mistake. Bear with me. Anything you say about me is true. I was a terrible husband.' Wouldn't that be mature? Wouldn't that be somebody you'd respect?"
Woroniecki hasn't spoken with Russell Yates since the drownings. And he does say Andrea bears responsibility as well. We tried unsuccessfully to contact both Russell Yates and his attorney for comment.