Following the posting of the list of Southwest Baptist University Trustees yesterday, Marie heard from a friend, who was astonished to see the name of REBECCA RANDLES listed as a Southwest Baptist University Trustee.
"Don't you know who she is?!" her friend enthused.
"Should I?" Marie replied. "I remember that she's a SBU Trustee, and an alumnus, I think ... and a Kansas City attorney."
"Yes, she was named one of the Lawyers of the Year in 2003 and she's one of the primary Missouri lawyers fighting for the victims of the Catholic clergy sexual abuse of children and women," her friend continued with unabashed exuberance.
"Yes, as I said: She's an attorney. I'm quite sure she is amply compensated for her work. There are millions to be made from the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic church. I'm still not clear how this affects me."
"She's one of the good guys, Marie! She could help." her friend, smiled cheerfully, refusing to give ground.
"Hitler was a great guy, too," Marie retorted. "At least, to his friends."
"Marie, don't be so so cynical." her friend responded, irritated and growing impatient. "She would help you, I know she would! Really!"
"Unless there's a money to be made, that's doubtful." Marie answered, flatly. "I don't know her. But, I did fax her -- along with many of the other trustees -- requesting help when my electricity was disconnected for sixty-four days."
"You did?" her friend responded, hopefully, "What did she say ... or do."
"The same as the rest of the Trustees: Nothing. As far as they were concerned, if I had died as a result of the respiratory trauma, seizures, or the cold or hunger, they would have considered it a job well done. No witness, no litigation; case closed."
There w
as a brief silence."Did she even call you to see if you were alright?" Marie's friend asked, quietly.
"You mean to see if I were dead yet? No, no call. She, like the rest of the Southwest Baptist University Trustees, was content to let it all happen right in front of her," Marie replied in a monotone that indicated she had already sifted through and recited the possibilities to herself more than once.
"Maybe ... she didn't get the fax?" It was a question, which Marie didn't even bother to answer.
There was another longer pause.
"Look, Marie, I know that what has happened to you has been evil ... and that it is hard for me to understand, but maybe you are misjudging Rebecca Randles. Maybe there is something about the situation that you don't know ... that she doesn't know. Maybe it's a misunderstanding."
Silence.
"Listen, Marie, you know ... how difficult it is to work with abuse victims. The chemically injured people that you deal with every week have virtually all been abused in some way or another: abandoned by family, spouses, co-workers, schoolmates and friends; maligned by employers, colleagues and friends; abused by government agencies, landlords, neighbors ... complete strangers on the street."
She took a breath and waited. No response.
And so, Marie's friend continued:
You have witnessed the trauma of living souls anguishing through that kind of suffering and struggle ... that kind of complete hopelessness. You've been through it yourself. ... But, you also know the soul-wrenching exhaustion and helplessness that you feel while watching it happen to someone else."Which makes what she did ... and didn't do ... all the more terrible," Marie interjected, suddenly, "She has become ONE OF THEM. She's now the ABUSER."
Rebecca Randles was smart enough to pass the Missouri bar exam. I'm sure she could have chosen many other occupations -- work that would be a lot easier.
She chose to work in this field, because she was called, called by God, ... because God gave her a desire to help people ... to fight for those who can't fight for themselves.
Marie, she's one of us, the good guys, the ones who fight for justice. ...
"Maybe. Maybe so." her friend conceded. "But, would it hurt to make sure ... to try one more time?"
"OK," Marie said, finally, "I'll consider it. ... I'll sleep on it. Call me."
Marie's decision -- Unexpected Response:
Southwest Baptist University -- Rogues, Flim-Flam and Fairy Tales (here)
