Priest Named by Foley Is Barred From All Religious Duties

[DoYouEverWonder]

October 21, 2006

The Archdiocese of Miami on Friday barred the Rev. Anthony Mercieca from functioning as a priest anywhere in the world after confirming that he was the clergyman who Mark Foley said molested him in the 1960’s.

Father Mercieca, who now lives in Malta, can no longer publicly celebrate Mass, administer the sacraments or wear priestly clothes, said Mary Ross Agosta, a diocesan spokeswoman.

Ms. Agosta apologized to Mr. Foley in a statement and described as repugnant Father Mercieca’s intimate contact with him, which the priest disclosed to a Florida newspaper this week. Father Mercieca, 69, worked in South Florida for almost 40 years and remains under the auspices of the archdiocese.

“Such behavior is morally reprehensible, canonically criminal and inexcusable,” Ms. Agosta said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/21/us/21priest.html

Mercieca spent 40 years in Miami and Foley was his only victim? I don't buy it. If this priest is really a pedophile then there are other victims. Even the Foley story confirms that this behavior was repeated over a period of time.

[Skittles]

1. one down, ten thousand to go

ugh

[orpupilofnature57]

2. Like rats jumping a sinking ship , Institutional sanctuary

[Benhurst]

3. Justice is so swift in the Church of Rome.

:rofl:

[SpiralHawk]

4. Hasty & Pope Ratzinger: "We did not have protection with that pervert"

You gotta believe us. Would a republicon and a Pope both lie? Wait, don't answer that....

[Toots]

5. How do we know it wasn't Foley that seduced the Priest?

:shrug:

[ShortnFiery]

6. I know that this was the right step, but Foley was *nasty* for not

quietly communicating this information to the Vatican. It's not like he brought this forward when it could have PREVENTED future abuse, i.e., 35 years ago when it would have truly made a difference. This Priest is so old and decrepit that he's probably is wearing one of his catheters (FOLEY) and couldn't get-it-up with Viagra. :eyes:

Atta Boy Foley! IMO you disgusting excuse for a human being. :(

It's everyone else's fault that you are in the fix you're in. :grr:

Many people are molested and go on to live moral lives.

Yours is AN EXPLANATION of sorts, NOT an EXCUSE. :nuke:

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. How many other young boys were abused by this priest

that could have been prevented if Foley had come forward years ago?

[seriousstan]

8. No shit, any victims of child abuse that keep quiet are responsible

for all the following crimes of the pervert that abused them. I also think their blame is double for all rape victims or spousal abuse victims who don't immediately come forward. They are the true perpetrators of the crimes.

[murielm99]

9. I don't like Foley any more than

any one else here.

But I think your statement is unduly harsh toward victims. I don't think you have any idea how hard it is for victims to come forward, even years after the abuse. Some people never heal from this.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. That's a very broad brush you paint with

Until you've been a victim of a sexual assault, you have no clue what it's like and why a person would choose to remain silent.

A victim of rape is not the same has a young man who likes to take saunas with his parrish priest.

[rug]

11. To get help, the priest is running for Congress.