I Never Had Sexual Relations with That Congressman

U.S. congressman Mark Foley, who resigned from his post after disclosure of his inappropriate relationships with several teenage Capitol Hill pages, has now disclosed that he had been abused by a priest himself when he was a teenager.

Father Anthony Mercieca, the priest in question, admitted in turn to having a relationship with the thirteen-year-old Mark Foley, but denied charges of abuse, saying that they never went beyond fondling (with no rape or penetration involved) and that Foley “seemed to like it” (see CNN story here).

Asked to comment on the situation, former President Bill Clinton emphatically wagged his finger at reporters, and told them that “Father Mercieca did not have sexual relations with that man, Mr. Foley.”