Michael Peter Woroniecki

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This article is about street preacher Michael Peter Woroniecki. For the Christian evangelist, comedian, and self-proclaimed occult expert, see Mike Warnke.

Michael Peter Woroniecki, (alias Michael Warnecki, Warneki, Worneki, Mike War and Shabar Ben),[1] born February 4, 1954, is a self-ordained, itinerant, fundamentalist[2], "fire and brimstone"[3], preacher who is notorious for his "belligerent evangelical style"[4], and his negative ministerial influence on Andrea Yates,[5][6][7] the Texas woman who drowned her five children in 2001.

His character and teachings have been criticized as cultlike and dangerous by some cult experts and ex-followers.[8]

Contents

[edit] Religious testimony

Proud senior Mike Woroniecki, #22, poses for his West Catholic High School yearbook All City honors with his other prestigious teammates. It was because of this "miracle," Woroniecki says, that he vowed to reconsecrate himself back to the Church.
Proud senior Mike Woroniecki, #22, poses for his West Catholic High School yearbook All City honors with his other prestigious teammates. It was because of this "miracle," Woroniecki says, that he vowed to reconsecrate himself back to the Church.

Woroniecki was the youngest of a large Polish Catholic family who was raised in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. His mother became involved in the Catholic Charismatic Movement in the early 1970s and was earnestly seeking to introduce her remaining children to the born again experience. In 1971, seeking a way out of Grand Rapids, he "made a deal with God" that he would attend spiritual prayer meetings with his mother if he could make All-City Tailback and thus receive a scholarship for college. He got the title and the scholarship.[9]

Woroniecki attended Central Michigan University (CMU) where he studied psychology and played varsity football from 1972 to 1976. However, after arriving there, Woroniecki explains in his Christian testimony, that he forgot his deal with God and had a "wild streak," involving himself in sex, drugs, and alcohol. He reminisces that he was known to his teammates as "Crazy War", who often looked to him "for stimulation of insanity." He continues on to say he was arrested the summer of his freshman year for assaulting someone in a nearby college bar, just to prove to his peers how tough a football player he was.[10] Woroniecki adds elsewhere that he knocked down a cinderblock wall of his dorm room to expand his living space. Another time, he continues, he says that he stole a pizza delivery vehicle and left it empty behind the bar where some of his teammates helped him eat the contents.[11]

During spring football practice in 1974, Woroniecki suffered a disabling football injury that threatened to destroy his athletic aspirations. About the same time, Woroniecki's mother gave him a Bible, which he says he began to read. Woroniecki says God used this time of suffering and depression to break him of his pride, preparing him to receive the Gospel. Two months later, he would begin to identify himself as a born again Christian.[12]

Woroniecki attended the annual Catholic Charismatic Conference at University of Notre Dame the weekend of June 14, 1974 with his mother, Rose, and sister, Mariane. He was in the stadium when he says he told God that he didn't know what this saying "born again" meant, but that he wanted everything the Lord had for him. At that moment, Woroniecki believes that he was "filled with the Spirit" and was "born again." [13]

Woroniecki returned to college football practice in July that same summer. One day after practice, while in a bar with his teammates, Woroniecki says he ordered water in the place of his usual beer. His friends becoming curious, Woroniecki explained that he had become a born again Christian. Used to his outrageous life-of-the-party humor, they all mistakenly thought he was joking. Accustomed to being the center of attention, Woroniecki became the unwitting focus of ridicule and rejection by his teammates. He says it was the beginning of many days of him walking off the playing field, his face in his hands. He says he could not understand why people like Roger Staubach, a famous Christian athlete, were respected, yet he was rejected, until, he says, God showed him John 12:24 and 25. Woroniecki explains that it was then that he realized he was called to be a "rejected football player" because of Jesus. He reasoned that if the world hated Jesus without cause; they would also hate and reject him if he followed Him.[14]

That very same year, Woroniecki and his teammates went on to win the Division II National Championship in the Middle Atlantic Conference for the first and only time of CMU's history.[15]

In his remaining years at CMU, Woroniecki met his then cheerleader girlfriend, Leslie Jean Ochalek of Detroit (renamed "Rachel Rebekah" in 1992), who would later become his wife on August 7, 1979.[16]

Woroniecki eventually became the president of his Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter. According to his own recorded testimony, he was attending an FCA retreat when he began to call all of his Christian peers "phonies." Distraught with his inability to control himself, he sought the counsel of his then FCA director-minister Dave Van Dam, who suggested to him that maybe he was called to be a "Jeremiah" (the office of a prophet who preached destruction). At some point, Mr. Woroniecki confesses that because of his persistent preaching of "truth", he was eventually asked to leave his CMU FCA chapter.[17]

Woroniecki graduated from CMU with a B.S. in Behavioral Sciences in 1976, and attended several Christian seminaries in the years that followed, culminating in a Masters of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in the spring of 1980.

[edit] Religious training

Woroniecki poses for his West Catholic High School freshman yearbook portrait in 1968. It was at this very time that Woroniecki initially rejected the teaching of the Catholic Church.
Woroniecki poses for his West Catholic High School freshman yearbook portrait in 1968. It was at this very time that Woroniecki initially rejected the teaching of the Catholic Church.

Woroniecki was raised by very devout Christian parents, Charles and Rose Woroniecki, who were members of the Basilica of Saint Adalbert, a Roman Catholic church in the Polish westside of Grand Rapids. Michael Woroniecki attended a Catholic grade school adjoining his family's parish, and eventually advanced to West Catholic High School, another parochial school in Grand Rapids. Woroniecki's initial break with his belief in the Roman Catholic Church came during his freshman year of high school, but his parents apparently required his continuing attendance in a parochial school setting.

During his senior year of high school in 1972, Woroniecki says he once again reluctantly began attending religious services through Catholic Charismatic prayer meetings and conferences, which he continued to participate in throughout his college years, as a result of the urging of his sister and mother.[18]

After graduating from CMU, Woroniecki attended Melodyland School of Theology at Anaheim, California starting in 1976. A month after returning home from seminary that summer, his mother died from colon cancer.[19] He mentions in his tape ministry that he made an attempt before many people to raise her from the dead, but he failed in tears and embarrassment. Woroniecki later insinuates in his teaching materials that he had become disenchanted with the charismatic church in which he was involved then because they had cited his failure to heal and raise her was due to a lack of faith on his part. Consequently, he did not return to the charismatic seminary he originally attended. Instead, he applied to the more traditional Dominican and Franciscan Orders of the Catholic Church with the intention of bringing reform from within the Church.[20] In his final round of interviews with the Dominican seminary near Chicago, Illinois, a priest seated on the board of review felt that Woroniecki would cause chaos in the priesthood, and he was refused admission. Woroniecki denounced the board, denigrating the entire Catholic priesthood as being false, but he turned quickly to apply to the Franciscan seminary in his own hometown of Grand Rapids. After a semester of preparatory study at Aquinas College, he was rejected from the Catholic priesthood a second and final time. He "scared them", Woroniecki told author Suzanne O'Malley.[21]

In 1978, Woroniecki was accepted at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, a Protestant institution. While there, he says he met a lone, radical street preacher carrying a sign, possibly Robert Engel, (A.K.A. Bobby Bible and Bobby Biblestein) or one of his disciples from the now disbanded Christian Brothers Church, formerly based out of Long Beach, California. [22] Engel is known to criticize Christians, calling for them to "repent of their lukewarmness."[23] Engel also preaches that women are "witches" whose usurping nature of Eve was responsible for the fall of mankind, a teaching Woroniecki apparently gleaned from him.[24] Woroniecki assumed this same outdoor style, standing outside chapel with a cross, criticizing his peers for what he perceived was their hypocritical confidence in their scholastic religious pride.[25] He was again seen preaching by seminary faculty several times in the open plaza of Fuller Mall.[26]

During the summer of 1979, Woroniecki interned at the Crusade for Christ church in Trenton, MI.[27]

Woroniecki obtained his Master of Divinity degree in 1980, but he was rejected for every religious position for which he applied. "Too zealous" was the complaint common to every rejection. [28]

Upon returning to Grand Rapids in the summer of 1980, Woroniecki briefly attended and ocassionally preached at Maranatha Church, a non-denominational charismatic ministry founded by the late Calvin Bergsma, Sr. Shortly thereafter, Woroniecki left to start his own home church and street preaching ministry. [29]

[edit] Preaching career

Woroniecki returned to Grand Rapids after graduating from Fuller Seminary in the summer of 1980 where he preached on the streets with a sign and a bull horn, starting his own unordained ministry called Cornerstone Christian Fellowship.[30] He was arrested nine times in the space of 16 months for disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.[31] Faced with two upcoming trials in the first week of October, 1981, one of which involved a woman he allegedly followed for two city blocks, berating to tears,[32] Woroniecki phoned the City Attorney's office with a plea offer. He would leave town if the remaining six charges against him would be dropped. The City Attorney submitted his request to the District Court and the plea offer was accepted.[33] He left for the city of Atlanta, Georgia where high volume street preaching was permitted provided a bullhorn is not used.[34] Woroniecki insinuated in the Grand Rapids Press that he was coerced into leaving,[35] but 23 years later, he would tell author Suzanne O'Malley that he was the one who approached the City Attorney with the plea offer.[36] Woroniecki returned to Grand Rapids in June of 1983 to once again preach there in violation of his agreement with the City Attorney. He was arrested a tenth and final time. Woroniecki pleaded no contest, paid a $105 fine and has not returned to preach there since.[37]

Woroniecki is arrested at Brigham Young University in 1994.
Woroniecki is arrested at Brigham Young University in 1994.

Since leaving Grand Rapids, Woroniecki has preached his confrontational Gospel throughout the 48 contiguous U.S. states, Hawaii, Latin America, and Europe.

In the spring of 1992, as he was preparing to leave to preach in Europe for the first time, Woroniecki published an audio teaching tape distributed to his disciples then saying that because there are no prophets in America or any students on the campuses of America responding fruitfully to his message, that his leaving America for Europe might invoke a terrible nationwide judgment from God that he described as "scary." [38]

In the summer of 1992, he preached inside Apostle Paul's memorial chamber of the Vatican, inciting the sensitivities of Catholics there by calling Paul "the scum of the earth." Once removed by security, Woroniecki entered the Vatican square to preach with a cross, and was again removed. He contemplated returning the next day to preach for the third time. Author Suzanne O'Malley writes that his Vatican visits culminated in his arrest.[39]

Woroniecki was arrested at Brigham Young University in 1994 for disturbing the peace and preaching without a permit, reportedly calling students there "Mormon scumbags" and "contemporary witches." [40]

In May, 1995, he and his family preached at Casablanca, Morocco and incited a riot of angry Muslims which resulted in the family's arrest. They were interrogated for eight hours by state officials, then ordered to leave the country because proselytizing Muslims is considered a crime there. He went to Spain thereafter, where another confrontation with police resulted in him physically wrestling with the officers and pushing one of them off of his signs, he confesses.[41]

During the week of Mar. 14, 2008, Woroniecki preached for his first time in Hawaii on Waikiki Beach and the campus of UH Manoa in Honolulu, leaving only Alaska to complete a 50 state tour of the U.S.[42]

Woroniecki has trained his six children to carry on in his tradition of confrontational preaching. They are often documented in news coverage preaching alongside their father. Often the children preach on their own, pairing up with another sibling. The children are (from oldest to youngest) Sarah Joy (1980), Mercy Ruth(1982), Faith Shalom (A.K.A. Elizabeth)(1984), Abraham Paul (1987), Joshua(1989) and David (1990).

[edit] Religious message

The central message Woroniecki has carried mainly to college campuses throughout the United States since 1980 is that all Christian churches are "Antichrist", preaching a "false and polluted twentieth century gospel" which he believes has no redemptive power.[43] Consequently, the only people on earth that he is aware of who are saved are himself, his wife and his six children.[44] When asked if anyone else is saved, Woroniecki often replies (quoting Jesus from the Gospels), "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man." (In the Biblical story of Noah, only eight persons were saved in an ark from a worldwide deluge, a fact which he repeats with the emphasis on "eight.")[45] If anyone else happens to be saved, he has told his disciples, he just hasn't met them yet.[46]

He also believes that "institutionalized education, along with employment and secular social activities, is a waste of time in God's eyes." Woroniecki preaches "that unless a person lives a jobless life spent preaching the Gospel, he is damned to hell." [47] Attending college and having a career are incompatible with being a real Christian, Woroniecki asserts.[48]

Although Woroniecki and his immediate family preach Jesus and reference biblical scriptures in their writings, they preach that the Christian churches are part of the "religious world system" which is "based in Satan" and cannot save anyone.[49] They further describe the Christian churches as "the tool of Satan."[50] Consequently, they take great offense with anyone associating them with the label "Christians."[51] They recommend that if anyone would seek God, they abandon the churches in favor of studying the Bible "all alone".[52]

Woroniecki's message is often met on the streets with a variety of emotional responses. Some enjoy hearing him.[53] Some become frustrated when they desire to engage in constructive debate only to be ignored by him.[54] Some laugh, mock, and/or react with violent verbal reactions and physical assault,[55] particularly when their outdoor concert is being interrupted,[56] or the Woronieckis choose an emotionally insensitive moment to condemn a grieving crowd to hell.[57] Others, usually Christians, become offended, angry and defensive, sometimes leading to a public prayer circle as a religious protest. Some have become emotionally wounded, even to the point of tears.[58] Others just ignore him.

For those who exchange letters with him for years earnestly seeking to obey and please him, there is an impetus to devolve towards emotional ruin.[59] The negativity latent in their message seems to offer their disciples little access to God's love or hope. Two of Woroniecki's daughters, ardent disciples of their father, preached the following at the University of Richmond on September 26, 2005:

"You are on the wrong path, and there is nothing you can do to save yourselves... God's message is not unconditional love. It's unrelenting anguish and hopelessness!"[60]

A few of Woroniecki's followers have publicly come forward detailing the negative effect his message has had on them. Andrea Yates' attorneys documented in court that Woroniecki's teachings were a central motivating factor in her anxiety centering around her children's eternal destiny, which became delusions directing her to kill her children, and herself.[61] Isoan Corlew, a former follower of Woroniecki, says she became depressed for years as a direct result of what she described as Woroniecki's message of "no hope" for her children.[62] David De La Isla of Houston Texas claimed on KTRK News, Houston, and in the Dallas Morning News, that he became suicidal twice and hospitalized once as a result of Woroniecki's beratings.[63] Woroniecki dismissed De La Isla, saying on ABC's Good Morning America that he only knew him for "fifteen minutes in a McDonalds fifteen years ago." ABC host Charles Gibson quickly countered Woroniecki pointing out that the disciple possessed of a whole stack of letters received from the preacher over a period of twelve years, to which Woroniecki replied, "stack of letters? I don't think a stack of letters." When Gibson mentioned that De La Isla had become suicidal as a response to Woroniecki's barrage of condemning letters, Woroniecki responded, "Well, that's his choice!" implying that his disciples need to be responsible for their own emotional state.[64]

Woroniecki's message for his disciples is very narrow and specific in its expectations for salvation. In a video message sent to his followers in 1996, Michael Woroniecki emphatically warns parents that unless they abandon their "husband goes to work, wife just exists" "hypocritical Christian lifestyle" (like his disciples Russell and Andrea Yates were then living), quit their jobs and take up his prophetic, itinerant lifestyle, their children would not be properly "trained by the Lord", reach accountability and "perish in hellfire." He also added that because of Mt. 18:6 the parents would "suffer the most severe judgment" for allowing an innocent child to stumble in this way. He taught that it was better for parents to commit suicide than cause their offspring to stumble and go to hell. [65]

[edit] Woroniecki's influence on Andrea Yates

On June 20, 2001, one of Woroniecki's disciples for the previous nine years, Andrea Pia Yates killed all five of her children. Woroniecki became the focus of national media attention from January to April 2002 when evidence was admitted in court implicating Woroniecki's teaching in a newsletter called The Perilous Times as having negatively scripted Andrea's psychotic mind.[66]

Woroniecki emphatically warns disciples in a video he distributed in 1996 that to call themselves Christians and not take up his itinerant preaching lifestyle would earn them the severest judgment from God and ultimately result in irrepairable spiritual damage to their children.
Woroniecki emphatically warns disciples in a video he distributed in 1996 that to call themselves Christians and not take up his itinerant preaching lifestyle would earn them the severest judgment from God and ultimately result in irrepairable spiritual damage to their children.[67]

Letters from the Woroniecki family were discovered by investigative author Suzy Spencer that berated Andrea over her unrighteous standing before God.[68] Only two months after receiving the harsh letters from the Woroniecki's, Andrea was hospitalized twice for two separate suicide attempts.[69] She had believed that she was a "bad mother" who was spiritually and behaviorly damaging her children,[70] and that it was better for her to die than to cause her children to "stumble" and go to hell--a staple of Woroniecki's teaching to parents found on his 1996 video, which the Yates both received from him and watched.[71]

Ex-followers contend that Mr. Woroniecki's "catch-22 gospel"[72] puts a tremendous amount of emotional pressure on his disciples.[73] Woroniecki's wife dismissed that characterization, saying in an interview with NBC Dateline in March 2002:

"A major problem is that people think that by emulating our lifestyle they can have the joy and the love that we have without building a foundation in Jesus Christ."

implying that their disciples are the ones who errantly choose to place themselves under the pressure of fulfilling God's Law, consequently weighing themselves down with guilt. Ex-followers further remark that Mrs. Woroniecki is being disingenuous and that her husband intentionally uses the Law of God as a "tutoring mechanism" to bring his disciples to Christ.[74]

Woroniecki denies that he had anything at all to do with negatively influencing Yates. He claims in a letter postmarked October 24, 2002 to author Suzanne O'Malley that Andrea's motive for killing her children was based on a deep and intense hatred for her husband that he learned from prior ministerial conversations with her, and that she and the media conspired to use "religious rhetoric" to cover up her true motive.[75] Only five months earlier, Woroniecki told the Leslie Primeau Show at CHED AM 630 in Edmonton, Canada that he had "no idea" what Andrea's true motive was.[76]

Suzanne O'Malley, in her book "Are You There Alone?" gives her consensus of Michael Woroniecki's impact on Andrea Yates:

"Whether to the casual observer or to those who had tried to follow Woroniecki for years, the streets of heaven seem empty. In spite of the ransom given for all men for all time, the numeric set of the "saved" seems to number only eight people: Woroniecki and his wife and children ... For those who were drawn to Michael Woroniecki for the sincerity of his beliefs and his walking the walk he talked, there seemed little, if any, hope to equal his personal success. For those who, like Andrea Yates, were both sincere and driven to please, following Woroniecki could lead to ruin."[77]

In the aftermath of the 2006 retrial and insanity verdict of Andrea Yates, host Chris Cuomo reported on ABC Primetime that:

"[Andrea Yates'] delusions were fueled by the extreme religious beliefs of a bizarre, itinerant street preacher named Michael Woroniecki ..."

Clips were shown from Woroniecki's 1996 video tape, which was entered into evidence at the retrial, documenting the pressure Andrea Yates was placed under to save her children.[78]

[edit] Post-Yates career

Woroniecki and his family remain active with their message.[79][80][81][82][83][84][85]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Suzy Spencer, Breaking Point, St. Martin's Library, p. 213; Krystle Kopacz, "Yates was one of Woroniecki's followers," The Daily Collegian, Penn. State Univ., Sep. 30, 2004 Article; Samples of Woroniecki's evangelistic tracts with names he has used from 1980-2007 (also see tract archive in references section below): Woroniecki, Warnecki, Warneki, Worneki, Mike War, Shabar Ben
  2. ^ Griffin, Mary. "Signing off: Recent influx of demonstrations around Grounds stirs up students, puts to question University policies on protesting", The Cavalier Daily, University of Virginia, 2005-10-19. Retrieved on 2007-05-16. 
  3. ^ Oregon family delivers fire, brimstone sermon Oct. 1, 1998, PSU
  4. ^ Suzanne O'Malley, Are You There Alone? The Unspeakable Crime of Andrea Yates, Simon and Schuster, c. 2004, p. 106; Tanda Gmiter, Ken Kolker, Did Preacher Sway Texas Mom? Grand Rapids Press, Jan. 23, 2002Article; Steve Grinczel, Woman Prefers to See Street Preacher Tried, Grand Rapids Press, Oct. 12, 1981Article;Sample video
  5. ^ Lost in the Message? Lisa Teachy, Houston Chronicle, April 5, 2002 Article "Shortly after Satan's first appearance at Andrea Pia Yates' capital murder trial, many observers began blaming the tragedy on a traveling evangelist the Yates family once admired. Television networks flashed images of the proselytizing preacher in a devil costume to accompany their coverage of the trial -- linking Michael Woroniecki to Yates' confession that she killed her children to save their souls."
  6. ^ Chris Cuomo reported on ABC Primetime that: "(Andrea Yates') delusions were fueled by the extreme religious beliefs of a bizarre, itinerant street preacher named Michael Woroniecki . . ." Chris Cuomo, "Primetime, Insanity Verdict, Insanity Defense. Secrets and Lies: The American Imposter, The American Imposter Tells All", ABC Primetime Jul. 27, 2006 Order Transcript See also:ABC Article of Telecast
  7. ^ Doug Saunders, Globe and Mail, Toronto Canada, Mar. 14, 2002Article
  8. ^ Countercult.com profile of Michael Woroniecki; Charles Gibson, "Yates Preacher Warned of Hellfire," ABC Good Morning America, March 26, 2002 Article; Lisa Teachey, "Lost in the Message?" Houston Chronicle, Apr. 5, 2002 Article; Cynthia Hunt, "Exclusive Look at Controversial Preacher Followed by Yates, KTRK-Houston ABC 13 Eyewitness News, March 21, 2002 Article; Jeff Miller, "Ex-follower Critical of Woroniecki," Dallas Morning News, Apr. 6, 2002; Article; Krystle Kopacz , "Yates was one of Woroniecki's followers," The Daily Collegian, Sep. 30, 2004 Article; Martin Sieff--Senior News Analyst, "The Fruits of False Teachings," United Press International, March 19, 2002 Article; L.L. and Joy A. Veinot, Midwest Christian Outreach Journal, "Deadly Cult Stories in the News: Andrea Yates," Spring, 2005, p.2 Michael Woroniecki, the Preacher of Andrea Yates by ex-follower; The Ultimate False Prophet by ex-follower, Douglas Roberts
  9. ^ O'Malley, p. 101
  10. ^ O'Malley, p. 101; Michael Woroniecki, The Victory in Defeat" tract, 1994frontback
  11. ^ Steve Grinczel, Lifelong Friend Looks at How Street Preacher Changed, Grand Rapids Press, Jun. 6, 1981Article
  12. ^ O'Malley, p. 102; Michael Woroniecki, "How To Win A Crazy War" testimony tract, 1990page 1 page 2 page 3
  13. ^ O'Malley, p. 102
  14. ^ O'Malley, p. 102, 103; Michael Woroniecki, The Victory in Defeat" testimony tract, 1994frontback
  15. ^ O'Malley, p. 103
  16. ^ O'Malley, p. 103
  17. ^ O'Malley, p. 106; Michael Woroniecki, "Where There is No Vision, There is only Death" tape, 1990, Audio excerptMichael Woroniecki, "Music Or Worship" tape, 1984Audio excerpt
  18. ^ O'Malley, p. 101,102
  19. ^ O'Malley, p. 103
  20. ^ O'Malley, p. 103; Michael Woroniecki, "Antichrist", tape, 1987Audio excerpt
  21. ^ O'Malley, p. 103, 104; Michael Woroniecki, "Spirit or Lard" tape, 1989Audio excerpt
  22. ^ Jed Smock, "Who Will Rise Up?", Campus Ministries USA, 1985,1994, p.16 Book Jed Smock notes that Dr. "Holy" Hubert Lindsey(Berkley, CA) and Christian Brothers Church (Long Beach, CA) were the only modern day evangelists he knew of back then that preached in this radical, confrontational street preaching style. Engel indicates in Smock's book that he was influenced by Lindsey.; Mark Singer, "Somewhere in America", Mariner Books, 2004, 2005, p.253, 254; Michael Woroniecki, "God's Redemptive Will" tape, 1984 Audio excerpt; Some former disciples of Engel run a website at www.preachtruth.org under the name "Cornerstone Ministries" in Norwalk, CA.
  23. ^ Jed Smock, "Who Will Rise Up?", Campus Ministries USA, 1985,1994, p.16 Book
  24. ^ James Sterngold, The Michael Jackson Trial--little to do awaiting the verdict but focus on the sideshow, San Francisco Chronicle, June 11, 2005: "Shortly afterward, Bible loudly accused her and the other Jackson supporters, at least the women, of being witches."; Jeanette Waite, Anti-Mormon Protest Disturbs Campus, The Daily Universe, Oct. 6, 1994: ""Get out there and be a witch," Woroniecki sarcastically preached. "Go and be a 20th century career woman and forget about your families."Article; Michael Woroniecki, "A Marriage?" tape, 1987 Audio excerpt
  25. ^ O'Malley, p. 104
  26. ^ Curt Christy, "Evangelist Michael Woroniecki Meets the Press in the 'City of Churches,'" Dec. 1, 1981University Research Paper
  27. ^ (Not affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ) O'Malley, p.104
  28. ^ O'Malley, p. 104
  29. ^ O'Malley, p.105; Curt Christy, "Evangelist Michael Woroniecki Meets the Press in the 'City of Churches,'" Dec. 1, 1981University Research Paper; Identifies church Woroniecki briefly attended: Article
  30. ^ O'Malley, p. 105
  31. ^ Curt Christy, "Evangelist Michael Woroniecki Meets the Press in the 'City of Churches,'" Dec. 1, 1981, University Research Paper
  32. ^ Steve Grinczel,"Woman Prefers to See Street Preacher Tried", Grand Rapids Press, Oct. 12, 1981Article
  33. ^ Assistant City Attorney Michael D. McGuire, "Dissent!: Woroniecki Case, Grand Rapids Press, Oct. 18, 1981Article
  34. ^ Follow Up: High Volume Street Preacher Reports Progress in Sunbelt, Grand Rapids Press, Dec. 14, 1981 Article
  35. ^ Steve Grinczel, "Street Preacher Will Leave City to Beat Charges, Grand Rapids Press, Oct. 8, 1981Article
  36. ^ O'Malley, p. 106
  37. ^ Julie Ridenour, "Street Preacher Pays Fine and Moves On in Search of Respect,"Grand Rapids Press, Jun. 8, 1983Article
  38. ^ Michael Woroniecki, "The Heart of David" tape, 1992Audio excerpt
  39. ^ O'Malley, p. 106; Michael Woroniecki, "The Fear of Horses" tape, 1992Audio excerpt; Michael Woroniecki, "The Fear of Horses" tape, 1992Audio excerpt
  40. ^ Jeanette Waite, "Anti-Mormon Protest Disturbs Campus", BYU Press, October 6, 1994 Article
  41. ^ O'Malley, p. 106; Steve Grinczel, "Grand Rapids Exile Preaches on at Olympics", Grand Rapids Press, Aug. 4, 1996Article; Seattle Times News Services, Around the World--Rabat, Morocco, "Oregon Missionary Family Arrested in Casablanca", The Seattle Times, May 31, 1995; "Casablanca Chrisitians", USA Today (European Edition), approx. May 31-Jun. 2, 1995, p.2; Michael Woroniecki, "How Does Your Face Respond to Lovers of the Truth?" video tape, 1996: Woroniecki reads from the European Edition USA Today article "Casablanca Christians" Article (See bottom of linked page); Michael Woroniecki, "How Does Your Face Respond to Lovers of the Truth?" video tape, 1996 Audio excerpt
  42. ^ Article, Judgment Day? Freedom of Speech on Campus, John Nakatsu, Kaleo (The Voice), Mar. 19, 2008; Photo, Woroniecki sports a festive Hawaiian shirt while preaching at the University of Hawaii, Monoa, Mar. 17, 2008; Photo, Woroniecki preaches at Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Mar. 14, 2008.
  43. ^ B.J. Thompsen, "Traveling Prophet Assails 'Wayward' Students", The Daily Emerald, May 12, 1987Article; Darlene McIlvaine, "Preacher Annoys", The Daily Cougar, Oct. 23, 1987Article; Sample literature: Michael Woroniecki, "Exposing Satan's Greatest Lie", tractfront,back
  44. ^ O'Malley, p.109
  45. ^ Timmy Cooper, "Am I Going to Hell?" The Liberty, Oregon State University, Oct. 17, 2003Article; Michael Woroniecki, "You are Headed for Hell" tape, 1996Audio excerpt
  46. ^ O'Malley, p.109; Timmy Cooper, "Am I Going to Hell?" The Liberty, Oregon State University, Oct. 17, 2003Article; Michael Woroniecki, "The Formula of Love" tape, 1994Audio excerpt
  47. ^ Ashley Gurbal, "Zealots Preach in Oak Grove", The Penn Online, 9/27/2004, Article
  48. ^ Elizabeth White, Preaching Group Visits Campus, Riles Students", Daily Utah Chronicle, Sep. 11, 2000Article; Lynn Sanchez, "Fire and Brimstone Pelt Uno, No One Injured", The Gateway, Oct. 26, 1987Article
  49. ^ Spencer, p.137
  50. ^ Sarah Kopman-Fried, Religious Zealots Curse Students to Hell, The Daily Campus, Univ. Conn., Sep. 26, 2006 Article
  51. ^ Spencer, p.213
  52. ^ Eric Webb, "Waiting on a Sign", The Undercurrent, Oklahoma University, Sep. 5, 2001 Article
  53. ^ Jerry Morlock, "Disturbing Word Jails Evangelist", Grand Rapids Press, Sep. 14, 1980 Article
  54. ^ Spencer, pp 177,178.
  55. ^ ; William Holm, "A Prophet Without Honor", Grand Rapids Magazine, February, 1981 Article
  56. ^ Jury Fails to Reach Verdict in Street Preacher's Trial, Grand Rapids Press, Jan. 20, 1981 Article
  57. ^ Spencer, pp.213,214;
  58. ^ Steve Grinczel, "Woman Prefers to See Street Preacher Tried", Grand Rapids Press, Oct. 12, 1981 Article; Stuart Villanueva, "Religious Conflict", The Battalion, Texas A&M Univ., Apr. 26, 2001 Archived Article Note: Photo depicts an emotionally wounded Christian seeking comfort in a prayer circle protest and an outraged protester angrily defending Christianity against Woroniecki's tirade against it.
  59. ^ O'Malley, p. 109
  60. ^ Article Kate Harmon and Shauna Havercamp, "The overture to Hell?" The Collegian, University of Richmond, Sep. 29, 2005.
  61. ^ O'malley, pp. 77,172,229
  62. ^ Krystle Kopacz, Yates was One of Woroniecki's followers, The Daily Collegian Online, Penn State University, Sep. 30, 2004 Article
  63. ^ Jeff Miller, "Ex-Follower Critical of Woroniecki", Dallas Morning News, 4/6/2002, Article; Cynthia Hunt, "Exclusive Look at Controversial Preacher Followed by Yates", KTRK News, Houston, Mar. 21, 2002 Article
  64. ^ Charles Gibson, ABC's Good Morning America, Mar. 27, 2002 Audio excerpt; Michael Woroniecki, "Spirit or Lard?" tape, 1989 Audio excerpt
  65. ^ Michael Woroniecki, How Does Your Face Respond to Lovers of the Truth?" video, 1996 Audio excerpt This video was featured on KTRK-Houston News, ABC's Good Morning America on March 27, 2002, ABC's Primetime on July 27, 2006 and on O'Malley, p.229 to demonstrate how the devil mask imagery and pressure from the teaching content influenced Andrea Yates delusions; Michael Woroniecki, "Where There is No Vision, There is only Death", Tape, 1990 Audio excerpt
  66. ^ Gesalman, Anne Belli, "Examining a Spiritual Leader's Influence", Newsweek Periscope, March 18, 2002, Article; ABC NEWS, The Evil Inside, Jan. 21, 2002; CrimeLibrary review of Yates case; Rachel Woroniecki, "The Perilous Times Newsletter", Jan. 2000Article
  67. ^ "How Does Your Face Respond to Lovers of the Truth?", Video tape, Michael Woroniecki, 1995 Audio Clip; This video was featured on KTRK-Houston News, ABC's Good Morning America on March 27, 2002, ABC's Primetime on July 27, 2006 and on O'Malley, p.229 to demonstrate how the devil mask imagery and pressure from the teaching content influenced Andrea Yates delusions.
  68. ^ Suzy Spencer, "Breaking Point", pp. 143,145
  69. ^ Rick A. Ross Institute News Summary March 18, 2002; World Net Daily, Beware of Poisonous Preachers Mar. 23, 2002; Jeff Miller, Ex-follower Critical of Woroniecki, Dallas Morning News, April 6, 2002 Article
  70. ^ "Andrea’s life was also distinguished by religious obsession and a steadfast devotion to tales of sin and Scripture, a 'repent-or-burn zeal' that led her to believe she was a bad mother with ruined offspring. According to Andrea, she killed her children to save them from Satan and her own evil maternal influences, delusions that did little to help Andrea’s defense because they fueled her own desire for punishment." Deborah W. Denno, WHO IS ANDREA YATES? A SHORT STORY ABOUT INSANITY, Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy, Vol. 10, Summer, 2003 Article
  71. ^ O'Malley, p.229; Note: the date given for the video in the book is errantly reported as 1994, but the video was produced in Europe in the summer of 1995, completed in Jan., 1996 and delivered to Woroniecki's disciples soon thereafter.
  72. ^ "Woroniecki's Gospel in a Nut's Shell," from ex-follower website: Michael Woroniecki, the Preacher of Andrea Yates; Site
  73. ^ Yates' Preacher Warned of Hellfire, ABC's Good Morning America, March 26, 2002; Cynthia Hunt, "Exclusive Look at Controversial Preacher Followed by Yates", KTRK-Houston ABC 13 Eyewitness News, Mar. 21, 2002 Article; Ex-follower site, Item 1; Ex-follower site, Item 2
  74. ^ Ex-follower Site; Michael Woroniecki, "What is True Salvation?" tape, 1992 Audio excerpt
  75. ^ O'Malley, p. 97
  76. ^ The Leslie Primeau Show, CHED AM 630, Edmonton, Canada, May 2002; Michael Woroniecki, "Edmonton Interview" tape, May, 2002 Audio excerpt; Full interview
  77. ^ O'Malley, p.109
  78. ^ Chris Cuomo, "Primetime, Insanity Verdict, Insanity Defense. Secrets and Lies: The American Imposter, The American Imposter Tells All", ABC Primetime Jul. 27, 2006 Order Transcript See also:ABC Article of Telecast
  79. ^ Traveling preachers descend onto PSU Sept. 23, 2004
  80. ^ Zealots preach in Oak Grove September 27, 2004 The Penn, Indiana University of Pennsylvania
  81. ^ Yates was one of Woroniecki's followers Sept. 30, 2004
  82. ^ Relgious solicitors harass students October 5, 2004 The Collegiate Times, Virginia Polytechnic & State University
  83. ^ Religious enthusiasts identified October 6, 2004
  84. ^ Family warns, preaches: 'We are ... going to Hell'Oct. 18, 2005 The Digital Collegian, PSU
  85. ^ Traveling preachers stir controversyArticle from the Penn State Daily Collegian, Sept. 22, 2005

[edit] References

  • "Are You Alone?" by Suzanne O'Malley, Website
  • "Breaking Point", by Suzy Spencer, Website
  • Bruce Nichols, "Nothing I'd Change", Dallas Morning News, Religion Section, April 6, 2002, Archived
  • Gesalman, Anne Belli, "Examining a Spiritual Leader's Influence", Newsweek Periscope, March 18, 2002, Archived
  • KTRK NEWS-Houston (ABC Affiliate), (10 broadcasts in 2002 investigating blame in the Yates tragedy: Jan. 21; Feb. 26; Mar. 4,17,18,21,27,28). Archive
  • Grand Rapids Press (Chronicles his early years in Grand Rapids, reports through the years and touches on his association with Andrea Yates). Archive
  • Evangelistic Tracts, (Materials Woroniecki has publicly distributed since his career began in 1980; of special interest: includes How To Win a Crazy War and The Victory In Defeat, documenting his testimony, the Perilous Times Newsletter, which was entered into evidence at Yates' trial, The Witch and the Whimp tract of his views on women and men, Exposing Satan's Greatest Lie, about his view on the Christian churches, and Wrapped in Sin which defines his gospel). Archive
  • University Archives, (Articles reporting on Woroniecki's preaching visits at major U.S. universities during the 1980s). Archive

[edit] See also

[edit] External links