Questions remain about Foley's claim of abuse nearly 40 years ago

Published: 2006-10-05

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Much remains unclear about former Rep. Mark Foley's allegation through an attorney Oct. 3 that he was abused by a member of the clergy when he was a young teen. Foley, a Republican who had represented Florida's 16th district in the House since 1994, resigned his seat Sept. 29 following reports that he had sent sexually explicit e-mails and text messages to House pages who were minors. David Roth, Foley's attorney, said at a West Palm Beach, Fla., news conference Oct. 3 that Foley wanted to name the person who had molested him when he was 13 to 15 years old, but was advised not to until he completed a 30-day treatment plan for alcoholism and mental health issues. "I cannot comment on whether the clergyman was a priest, a minister, an imam or a rabbi," Roth said. Alexis Walkenstein, director of communications for the Palm Beach Diocese, also declined to comment on the allegation. "It would be really inappropriate for me to comment on speculation at this point, especially not knowing what these allegations are or who they're being made against," she said. "We don't even know if it involved the Catholic Church or the diocese."

Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .