Miami Archdiocese says it will name priest accused of abusing Foley

Published: 2006-10-18

MIAMI (CNS) -- The Archdiocese of Miami will reveal the name of the priest who allegedly abused former Congressman Mark Foley approximately 40 years ago once attorneys for Foley have supplied the information, the archdiocesan director of communications said Oct. 18. Mary Ross Agosta, who also directs the Safe Environment Program for the archdiocese, said Foley's attorneys wanted to disclose the name to attorney J. Patrick Fitzgerald, general counsel for both the Miami Archdiocese and the Diocese of Palm Beach. No meeting between the attorneys had been set as of the morning of Oct. 18, she said. Ross Agosta said that when church officials learn the name "we will report the name to the state attorney's office, offer psychological and pastoral counseling to the victim, announce the name and ask any other victims to come forward, and begin the healing process." In an Oct. 5 letter to Foley attorney David Roth, Fitzgerald had asked that Foley reveal the name of the clergyman he said abused him.

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