Abuse network chief to Foley: Name your attacker

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"The director of a national network of sexual abuse victims called on disgraced former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley of Palm Beach County to identify his alleged perpetrator to local law enforcement and the church diocese.

''He should contact law enforcement regardless of how long ago the crime took place. Like any victim, there's a civic and moral duty to do this, especially for someone who is a lawmaker. He's a public official,'' said David Clohessy, director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).

Attorney David Roth, speaking on Foley's behalf at a West Palm Beach news conference Tuesday, said the former congressman was molested between the ages of 13 and 15 by a clergyman.

Roth said the 52-year-old Foley, now in seclusion for treatment for alcoholism, kept the molestation secret for more than 30 years because of ``shame.''

Roth declined to identify the clergyman or the church."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15677969.htm

[Demobrat]

1. I bet he can't remember.

Any takers?

[kurth]

3. He'll name a priest who now lives

underground in a cemetery.

[Marlie]

9. If Foley names a dead innocent priest

I sure hope that priest comes back and really haunts Foley. That would be a terrible thing to do, especially if the priest's family are still around. I would put nothing pass that weasel Foley.

[Lasher]

30. Nah, don't worry. The dummy defense is SOP for the GOP

He'll say he can't remember. Or he was never informed or something.

[BOSSHOG]

2. and take a liver function test

to prove you are an alcoholic. We are sure you are a liar.

[Mabus]

14. LOL

I know someone who was a closet drinker. He never drank in public and refused to meet anyone where alcohol was being served. He was very righteous about it. He ended up in the emergency room after an accident in his home. He was stinking drunk and had fallen down and hurt himself. They did tests and also discovered he had an advanced case of cirrhosis because of his drinking. Later I learned that his neighbors had been finding empty liquor bottles in their trash cans for years. Apparently he bought alcohol in nearby cities and threw away his empties in the middle of the night by depositing the bottles in everyone else's trash.

If Foley is a long-term alcoholic there will be clear physical manifestations of it that will show up in testing.

Maybe Foley only became a heavy drinker after the e-mails and IMs became public.

[NanceGreggs]

4. Probably can't name names ...

... because it never happened.

[tridim]

5. "Foley, now in seclusion for treatment for alcoholism" ?

Why does that remind me of "The Big Lebowski"? "Grown men also cry. Grown men also cry"

Mind if I do a "J"?

[arcane1]

11. now in seclusion from media interviews, most likely

[Binka]

27. I'm Reminded of "This Is What Happens When You Fuck A Stranger

In the ass Larry."

[notadmblnd]

6. Okay.. what ever you need to tell yourself to get you through Foley,

Ashamed of being molested, but not too much shame (he did it pretty openly) in attempting to molest? He has been engaging in this behavor for years, where was your shame then. The only thing I think he's ashamed about is getting caught.

[Marie26]

33. Exactly

In that whole press conference, did he ever actually apologize? I don't think he's sorry at all - every statement so far has been a Mark Foley pity party. Which means he might well do it again.

[The Stranger]

7. David Lee Roth is getting involved?

Is he "Running With the Devil"?

[Ezlivin]

8. Republican Memory Block - Apply directly to forehead

Apply directly to forehead.

Completely erases memories which may be used to incriminate you.

[ananda]

10. I blame Pope Maledict.

He was so good at these kinds of protections and cover ups.
Looks like Reeps were just following his lead. What an
example.

[WePurrsevere]

12. How hard would it be for a good journalist to narrow the possiilities

down & ask about Foley's "admission" (IF this clergyman truly exists)? Did Foley move around or change churches that much when he was between 13 and 15?

[badgerpup]

13. Hmmm...looks like time to start asking friends and family..

What church was attended during that time.
Surely there are records as to who the pastor/priest/deacon would have been...

Is it just me, or does 'memory loss' for Republicans only work for convenient issues? :sarcasm:

[truthisfreedom]

15. i don't doubt it happened. foley will be taken care of by the law. we

need to focus on the coverup, and the coverup of condigate.

[uppityperson]

16. He KNEW how hard it was to tell, and preyed on young people

IF this is true, he KNEW how hard it was to tell, he kept it secret out of shame. So he KNEW he could probably get by with this since other teens would most likely feel the same, don't tell out of shame or fear.

[DeepModem Mom]

17. NYT: Revelation by Foley Angers Victims of Abuse by Clergymen

Revelation by Foley Angers Victims of Abuse by Clergymen
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: October 5, 2006

Former Representative Mark Foley’s declaration that he was sexually abused as a teenager by a cleric has angered many victims of sexual abuse by clergy members, who say that being victimized as a youth is no excuse for victimizing others.

If Mr. Foley was abused, they said, he has a responsibility to report his abuser to the police immediately and to identify the cleric publicly.

“You certainly don’t wait,” said Peter Isely, a clinical social worker in Minneapolis who was abused by a priest as a teenager and is an official of a national advocacy group for victims. “It’s extremely important that the secrecy be pierced immediately, because there could be kids at risk.”...

***

After days of revelations about Mr. Foley’s e-mail messages to young pages, victims of sexual abuse said in interviews yesterday that while his claim of abuse could be genuine, it was infuriating because it reinforced the idea that victims of child abuse grew up to abuse others.

Melissa Lucia, 57, who said she had been abused by a priest in Interlachen, Fla., said she was furious as she heard Mr. Foley, through his lawyer, attribute his problems to alcoholism and then disclose his homosexuality and abuse as a child....“That is not your justification to mess up other people’s lives.”...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/05/washington/05abuse.html

[babylonsister]

18. Holy moly. The true victims are enraged. Good! Truth is Good! nt

[flamingyouth]

19. I'm glad these victims are speaking out.

I admire their courage. "That is not your justification to mess up other people's lives."

[speedoo]

20. Add to that the likelihood that he's lying.

And they have even more reason to be enraged.

[BrotherBuzz]

21. Or he wasn't a victim, but a very willing...

participant. Jeez louise, that tangent could be a whole other can of worms. Let's cross that bridge when we get to it, OK?

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

26. Nope, minors are victims no matter how willing

The laws are designed to protect minors from their own lack of judgement. Adults, especially those in positions of authority, are expected to control their behavior on behalf of the minor.

[tibbiit]

22. he is the poster child for the term

Self-hating gay male.
he hates being gay, but cant stop cause he is gay.
An unhappy little man
tib

[rodeodance]

23. Foley is a coward---looking for sympathy.

[NVMojo]

24. he's also a liar looking for an excuse

[patrick t. cakes]

25. hes also a sicko

pedophile who needs slapped in the face. i think hes lying.

[Irreverend IX]

28. Is Foley even Catholic?

Was his family known to be Catholic before he made this claim?

[Justice]

29. yes, born in Newton MA and was born Catholic

family moved to Florida at some point.

[The Backlash Cometh]

31. "Civic and moral duty" have nothing to do with Republican family values.

Two entirely different animals. Republican family values has to do with moralizing about everybody else's behavior. A good Republican family knows how to keep the family secrets, well, er, secret.

[klook]

32. Man, what happened to the good old days when all a scumbag had to do was

to claim to be a born-again Christian? Nowadays, you have to get rehabbed, claim sexual abuse at the hands of a priest, or otherwise assert that your actions were http://www.snopes.com/legal/twinkie.htm">caused by forces outside your control.

edit: fixed dumb punctuation mistake

[Anakin Skywalker]

34. If You Won't Name Your Attacker, You Are

helping the terrorists win, Mr. Foley! You don't want that, do you? Why do you hate America?

[Anakin Skywalker]

35. Foley To Do an Ollie North.

"I don't recall".