The American Centurians
10-20-2006, 10:20 PM
A couple of weeks ago, U.S. Congressman Mark Foley (R-FL) suddenly resigned his position amidst allegations of sexual misconduct towards high school age Congressional pages. He immediately went to a rehab center for alcoholism and mental health. His attorney held a press conference and announced that Foley was sorry about his conduct but wanted everyone to know that he was a homosexual, an alcoholic and the prior child victim of sexual abuse by a priest. Obviously being homosexual or being an alcoholic have nothing to do with preying on children. Former sexual abuse may be another question? The news was both shocking and concerning that a man in such a position of trust in our government could actually have been one of the "predators" he so often campaigned against to protect children.
This week the Catholic priest, who allegedly sexually abused Foley, admitted to it. It was not the priest's admissions but his attitude which was a surprise. Father Anthony Mercieca, who now resides in Malta and supposedly is still an active priest at the age of 72, was a parish priest at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church & School in Lake Worth, Florida where Foley served as an altar boy and attended school as a young teenager. Father Mercieca, who has been a priest for 38 years, stated that he and Foley became close friends and "loved each other as brothers". The priest stated that he and Foley had been naked together in a sauna and there were events which Foley may have interpreted as sexually inappropriate such as the priest massaging Foley while naked, skinny dipping together at a secluded lake and being naked together in the same room overnight. The priest admitted that there may have been some fondling but no actual sex. The priest stated that he had been in drug induced stupors on occaision and was going through a nervous breakdown, and thus, he may not remember all the details of his relationship with Foley. The priest could not understand why Foley was bringing this up some 40 years later and why Foley would want to destroy him ( the priest) at his elderly age. Talk about denial! Let us guess that Foley was not the only person this priest "loved like a brother" in his 38 years in various parishes throughout the world.
This incident happens to be recent. However, the problem occurs everyday as a threat to our children. The predator could be a priest, minister, fireman, doctor, lawyer, policeman, school teacher, little league coach or anyone else you could never imagine. The predators are not people who look like monsters--they look like your neighbors, friends and co-workers. Dateline NBC has highlighted the problem across the nation with it's series on child predators who exist regardless of where you live by communicating with your children over the internet. It is a scary situation for all parents and grandparents who wonder who and what is safe for their children anymore. Years ago you would not hesitate to drop your child off at his local church or encourage him or her to have fun at the upcoming overnight scout trip. Today, it is a different story! It is also a sad story!
Congressman Foley obviously was personally effected by his unfortunate relationship with his parish priest as a young man. Whether it can be the excuse for his current behavior is debatable. The question is how many other people are holding similiar secrets from unfortunate meetings with people we all know and trust (or at least thought we did)? The bigger question is how many of our young people will be subjected to the same in the days and years to come? What can be done about this seemingly out of control situation which threatens our children every day? Too many questions and not many answers!
If nothing else, the Congressman Foley case has again brought this problem to our attention on a nationwide basis. It will be an even bigger disaster if it is ever determined that Congressional leadership was involved in a "cover up" of Foley to preclude embarrassment and serve other political purposes. "Cover ups" are often worst than the offense because it allows the offender to continue hurting others. The Catholic Church is sufferring the consequences of such action today for it's role in numerous priest misconduct. Let us hope that the U.S. Congress will not be following down the same path regarding it's members!
Sexual predators come in all shapes and sizes. They live and work in places and occupations once known to be safe and healthy for our young children and teenagers. Paranoia is not good for us or our children. However, living in a dream world is not good either. Obviously I wish I had the answer or solution to this problem. Unfortunately, I do not!
Lets wakeup America and at least think about it!
Alan /s/
This week the Catholic priest, who allegedly sexually abused Foley, admitted to it. It was not the priest's admissions but his attitude which was a surprise. Father Anthony Mercieca, who now resides in Malta and supposedly is still an active priest at the age of 72, was a parish priest at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church & School in Lake Worth, Florida where Foley served as an altar boy and attended school as a young teenager. Father Mercieca, who has been a priest for 38 years, stated that he and Foley became close friends and "loved each other as brothers". The priest stated that he and Foley had been naked together in a sauna and there were events which Foley may have interpreted as sexually inappropriate such as the priest massaging Foley while naked, skinny dipping together at a secluded lake and being naked together in the same room overnight. The priest admitted that there may have been some fondling but no actual sex. The priest stated that he had been in drug induced stupors on occaision and was going through a nervous breakdown, and thus, he may not remember all the details of his relationship with Foley. The priest could not understand why Foley was bringing this up some 40 years later and why Foley would want to destroy him ( the priest) at his elderly age. Talk about denial! Let us guess that Foley was not the only person this priest "loved like a brother" in his 38 years in various parishes throughout the world.
This incident happens to be recent. However, the problem occurs everyday as a threat to our children. The predator could be a priest, minister, fireman, doctor, lawyer, policeman, school teacher, little league coach or anyone else you could never imagine. The predators are not people who look like monsters--they look like your neighbors, friends and co-workers. Dateline NBC has highlighted the problem across the nation with it's series on child predators who exist regardless of where you live by communicating with your children over the internet. It is a scary situation for all parents and grandparents who wonder who and what is safe for their children anymore. Years ago you would not hesitate to drop your child off at his local church or encourage him or her to have fun at the upcoming overnight scout trip. Today, it is a different story! It is also a sad story!
Congressman Foley obviously was personally effected by his unfortunate relationship with his parish priest as a young man. Whether it can be the excuse for his current behavior is debatable. The question is how many other people are holding similiar secrets from unfortunate meetings with people we all know and trust (or at least thought we did)? The bigger question is how many of our young people will be subjected to the same in the days and years to come? What can be done about this seemingly out of control situation which threatens our children every day? Too many questions and not many answers!
If nothing else, the Congressman Foley case has again brought this problem to our attention on a nationwide basis. It will be an even bigger disaster if it is ever determined that Congressional leadership was involved in a "cover up" of Foley to preclude embarrassment and serve other political purposes. "Cover ups" are often worst than the offense because it allows the offender to continue hurting others. The Catholic Church is sufferring the consequences of such action today for it's role in numerous priest misconduct. Let us hope that the U.S. Congress will not be following down the same path regarding it's members!
Sexual predators come in all shapes and sizes. They live and work in places and occupations once known to be safe and healthy for our young children and teenagers. Paranoia is not good for us or our children. However, living in a dream world is not good either. Obviously I wish I had the answer or solution to this problem. Unfortunately, I do not!
Lets wakeup America and at least think about it!
Alan /s/