Rep. Foley Molested by a "clergyman"

[pnewton]

I think that the advice by the priest for BrickCityIrish might have been sound, given the context. If he said the Church was only a man-made institution, that is obviously blatantly wrong, but the part about changing the focus to one’s own spiritual journey sounds like a good idea. The church is full of imperfect people. While protected by the Holy Spirit in matters of faith and morals, discipline and matters of prudence can be areas subject to the same frailities other managerial types face. The best course of action is not always obvious and even with the best intentions an unwise choice might be made.

I see a good argument for those who can not deal with the fact that some administrative decisions hurt others and will backfire, to stop worrying about what the management is doing and focus on the job at hand, in this case, spiritual growth.

 

[estesbob]

Ha! It really does go both ways. Of course those who go over to the other side cannot concieve of it.
I see this whole issue as a matter of great sin, particularly the sin of perverse and unacceptable sexual desires and actions. Our Church, country and neighborhoods are all fallen prey to it, and everywhere we look, we can see the evidence of the destruction it brings. Having worked for the Church in Boston, I know what it was like watching the storm approach and then explode overhead, breaking the hearts of many who loved and trusted the Church. But those of us who saw it coming felt as if it were like a cancer desperately in need of surgery, and though the body may suffer greatly from the treatment, the alternative is far worse.
God bless Catholics who accept this time of vulnerability and humility as they place their hopes in recovery and restoration. It just has to happen, whether weaker members choose to leave or not, that the whole body might be saved.

I personally talked to my Pastor and our Bishop about my anger over the way this was handled. Fortunately our Diocese always had a zero tolerance policy and there have been no accusation of any molestations.

It is indeed a self-inflicted wound that has cost us credibility with both our members and the public at large and has given our enemies a perfect opportunity to attack us.

However out Church has been around for 2,000 years and has been the greatest force for good in the History of the world. I am not about to let weak Bishops and sinful Priests separate me me from the One True Church

 

[Catherine_S]

Let’s hope so.

Priests are men and men are far from perfect, but these clergy abuses just need to end whatever it takes. Perpetrators need to be brought to justice and serve punishment if found guilty. Not only for the sake of our Church’s “image,” but for the victims’ sake and for the sake of potential victims.

As far as this Foley goes, we will see whether it was a Catholic cleryman or not and whether or not it was a true claim or not. The cynic in me would not be surprised if he was lying to arouse sympathy and take some of the heat off himself.

When the Lord is the closest it may not always feel good…the** Light** begins** to expose the darkness in ourselves, in others** and** even in the Church.** How can we fix** what we can not see?** We can be at peace…Christ’s loving Spirit is close, opening our eyes to many lies and this so that He can clean up His Church.
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He is but it looks as though it might just be working…last night in referance to Mr. Foley I heard a TV announcer (for the first time) say " we have to remember that this is a sick and suffering man" ( there’s that largeness of heart again).

Is this behavior an illness or is it just a different lifestyle. In some ways, Mr Foley is no different as a homosexual male than a man who is a heterosexual male hitting middle age, who can not handle the reality of ageing and begins to look around for younger partners to feed their ego.This can be a life pattern for some males in both camps. Their need becomes very compulsive with age and it got this one caught!

Is self centerness a sickness or is it a sin? Is **putting oneself first **even before God a **good **thing or a **bad **thing? Is it acceptible to place one’s own needs first by overriding any thoughts **as to who we might hurt or harm? There are some very basic questions that we all need to ask ourselves before we draw our conclusions. Not to judge…none of us is without sin but to deal with these issues when they come up in the Church **or in society. If we do not they are going to continue to come up until we get it straight. God is going to see to it. Consequences!!

It is my personal opinion that there is much more to come.
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[Eden]

St. Michael/Brick City is complicit in the violation of these children by focusing the issue on Mr. Foley’s supposed molestation by a clergyman in this thread instead of focusing on what we know Mr. Foley did. Bringing up old grudges against the Church based on unsubstantiated claims instead of discussing the known fact that Foley violated children and not holding him accountable for that is shameful.

 

[Riley259]

Foley’s playing the blame game here. On the one hand he says that it’s all his fault but in the next breath he says but by the way, I was molested by a member of the clergy. He trying to cover his bases here. It is striking how similar his problem is with a good deal of the Catholic priests who abused minors: gay men who had attractions to adolescents. There seems to be a theme that people should take note of.

 

[Eden]

The posters who are commenting as though Mark Foley was truly molested by a clergyman are, IMHO, giving the benefit of the doubt to a man who clearly has no credibility. Have you seen his comments about predators of children before he was caught? It is frightening that someone can hide their true nature so convincingly for so long.

 

[Adonis33]

The posters who are commenting as though Mark Foley was truly molested by a clergyman are, IMHO, giving the benefit of the doubt to a man who clearly has no credibility. Have you seen his comments about predators of children before he was caught? It is frightening that someone can hide their true nature so convincingly for so long.

Agreed.

 

[estesbob]

The posters who are commenting as though Mark Foley was truly molested by a clergyman are, IMHO, giving the benefit of the doubt to a man who clearly has no credibility. Have you seen his comments about predators of children before he was caught? It is frightening that someone can hide their true nature so convincingly for so long.

Agreed. He is blaming alchohol abuse and abuse as a child.excuses that will get you a lot of sympathy on Ophra but in reality excuse nothing.

 

[iserve]

I was not referring just to priests, this sexual sin has perverted our whole society, and there isn’t a place one can look now to avoid seeing it rearing its ugly head! That said, within the Church, for both priests and those wanting to call themselves Catholic, it is necessary to exorcize this evil, no matter whose “feelings” are hurt. God has not fallen for this trick and neither should we. Foley is practicing the sins of a liar, a sexual deviant, and calling on the name of God and His Church for his own, vain purposes. A holy priesthood would give those who are scandalized a place in which to find direction and refuge, but because of what happened, it can feel as though the shepherd has fallen asleep and the flock has scattered. Good and faithful priests and Catholics must cling to one another in such trying times as these!