# Priest says Foley "may have found some things inappropriate" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 19, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104 "2006-10-19T15:47:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/21 "2006-10-19T23:21:32Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] Tris, that’s not what I’m saying. So what if what the priest says is not real lurid yet? Releasing the info in dribs and drabs prolongs the fun. 😉 If he is getting paid, he needs a better agent. _The National Enquirer_ pays much better than _The Sarasota Herald Tribune._ [/QUOTE] my reply was to the OP, not your reply. Is your name Dan? I didn’t know that. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/22 "2006-10-19T23:28:30Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Has the priest announced his entry into rehab yet? [/QUOTE] No, but it’s [getting a bit more lurid.](http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/10/19/foley.priest/index.html?eref=rss_topstories) > [@](#): > > A priest whom former Rep. Mark Foley reportedly accused of molestation almost four decades ago said Thursday that he fondled the lawmaker as a teen, but the priest said it wasn’t abuse because Foley “seemed to like it.” > > “Once maybe I touched him or so, but didn’t, it wasn’t – because it’s not something you call, I mean, rape or penetration or anything like that you know. We were just fondling,” Father Anthony Mercieca, 69, said in a phone interview with CNN affiliate WPTV from his home on the Maltese island of Gozo in the Mediterranean. > > Mercieca earlier told The Associated Press that a Florida newspaper “exaggerated” the inappropriateness of his and Foley’s relationship. > > “He seemed to like it, you know? So it was sort of more like a spontaneous thing,” Mercieca told WPTV, a West Palm Beach, Florida, station. > > Mercieca, however, rejected the idea that he sexually abused Foley, saying, “See abuse, it’s a bad word, you know, because abuse, you abuse someone against his will. But it involved just spontaneousness, you know?” > [@](#): > > Let bygones be bygones’ > > Mercieca apologized to Foley but implored the former lawmaker to remember the fun they had together. > > “I would say that if I offended him, I am sorry, but to remember the good time we had together, you know?” he said. “And how really we enjoyed each other’s company. And to let bygones be bygones. Don’t keep dwelling on this thing, you know?” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/23 "2006-10-20T03:12:04Z")
[QUOTE=amarinth] But naked massage? How could anyone possibly perceive that as anything but sexually inappropriate? [/QUOTE] Doesn’t that depend on which one of them was naked? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/24 "2006-10-20T14:14:53Z")
[QUOTE=Triskadecamus] my reply was to the OP, not your reply. [/QUOTE] I knew that. What I didn’t know is that I’m not allowed to respond to posts that are not specifically addressed to me. I thought this was more like a group conversation. My bad. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/25 "2006-10-20T14:16:23Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Doesn’t that depend on which one of them was naked? [/QUOTE] (imagining the situation in each of four ways then hosing the ICK! out of my brain) Nope. Doesn’t seem to matter. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/26 "2006-10-20T14:53:13Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] Foley blames his problems on alcohol and clerical molestation, but didn’t touch any of the boys. The accused priest then blames that molestation on pills and a nervous breakdown, but the whole thing was “innocent.” I guess the next question is “who molested Anthony Mercieca, what drug was that person on, and why was it ‘not so bad?’” [/quote] No, the next question is what will the pages whom Foley supposedly did not molest go on to do later in life? And when _they’re_ caught, what will they say about Foley? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/27 "2006-10-20T15:25:17Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] (imagining the situation in each of four ways then hosing the ICK! out of my brain) Nope. Doesn’t seem to matter. [/QUOTE] Actaully, there are a lot more than 4 combinations, but I assumed the one the guy was talking about was both of them are naked and the priest is the masseuse. But I agree that it doesn’t matter which combination it was. I also assume \*\*Cervaise \*\*was joking. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/28 "2006-10-20T18:16:57Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] I also assume \*\*Cervaise \*\*was joking. [/QUOTE] Never. 😉 Actually, I was making an attempt at a wryly off-kilter observation of how the various news stories are almost uniformly using the phrase “naked massage” without trying to dispel the ambiguities of what precisely that is supposed to mean. ---
**Author:** ![Schroedinger\_s\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Schroedinger\_s\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schroedinger_s_Dog)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/29 "2006-10-20T19:54:45Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] Actaully, there are a lot more than 4 combinations, but I assumed the one the guy was talking about was both of them are naked and the priest is the masseuse. [/QUOTE] Masseur, actually. Otherwise, that priestess has pulled a fast one on the Church. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/30 "2006-10-20T20:09:22Z")
Honestly, are there any non-sexually depraved\* politicians OR priests out there? \*And by sexually depraved, I refer to the seduction of children, not being gay. ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/31 "2006-10-21T02:26:38Z")
[QUOTE=dropzone] I knew that. What I didn’t know is that I’m not allowed to respond to posts that are not specifically addressed to me. I thought this was more like a group conversation. My bad. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] :rolleyes: ? You knew that. You post to my name, beginning with: “That’s not what I’m saying.” When I explain that I never thought it was what you were saying, but rather was saying something directly to someone else, you come back with a “rolleyes” little snark at me, implying that I objected to what you were saying. Please put me on your ignore list. Tris ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/32 "2006-10-21T02:46:47Z")
I’m trying to suss out how this is playing in the literal scheme of things: Foley, backpedalling as “victim”, via alcohol, or as a young person in the trusted church. Ok, I can sympathize with that travesty; poor boy. But why did the powers that be enable Foley to be on the forefront of legislation against that specific type of activity? If he knew he was a mess of it because of said priest’s abuse, he should not be counsel to legislation dealing with that type of abuse. That’s the biggest glaring error for me, that Foley was allowed to be quite two-faced in his approach to legislation. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/33 "2006-10-21T03:19:18Z")
You don’t really have to be a hypocrite to be a politician. To be a _successful_ politician, however… ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/34 "2006-10-21T03:46:02Z")
This priest’s a riot. “Well, there was that time I put his dick in my mouth, but, uh…he liked it! I mean, maybe blowing altar boys could be seen as inappropriate in certain contexts, but we were pals! Why’s he making trouble for me now, olla sudden? I meen, cripes, what about all the great, great baby-oiled fun we had a camp? This is really disappointing!” ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/35 "2006-10-21T04:21:31Z")
[QUOTE=elelle] I’m trying to suss out how this is playing in the literal scheme of things. [/QUOTE] Well, they tried, “Clinton Lied!” and it didn’t work. They tried the full Shultz. (I knew nothing! I saw nothing.) They tried “The Democrats set us up!”, and that didn’t work any better for them that it did for you remember who. Anything is better than saying aloud that “We elected Hastert because we knew he would do anythting to keep a party majority, and we were really glad about it up until now.” “Oh, look, a priest! A fag! Clinton lied!” Tris ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/36 "2006-10-21T04:35:35Z")
See, Tris, I just don’t get the Moral uprightness coupled with the Blame It On A Priest thing. Cuz, uhhh… ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/37 "2006-10-21T15:47:59Z")
[QUOTE=elelle] See, Tris, I just don’t get the Moral uprightness coupled with the Blame It On A Priest thing. Cuz, uhhh… [/QUOTE] Because of such concepts as personal responsibility, actual values, repugnance for moral relativism? The folks who are spooning this crap out, and the ones lapping it up have no interest in actual morality, real values, or any other thing. It is one hundred percent about maintaining political power. Oh, and don’t forget, Clinton lied! Tris ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2006, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104/38 "2006-10-21T16:17:13Z")
[QUOTE=Colibri] Father Anthony Mercieca, 69, said in a phone interview with CNN affiliate… [/QUOTE] He just happens to be one year short of three score and ten … just a coincidence :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/priest-says-foley-may-have-found-some-things-inappropriate/377104.md?page=1)