c. 2006 Religion News Service
(UNDATED) The Rev. Anthony Mercieca, the priest at the center of the Mark Foley abuse scandal, has been removed from active ministry by the Archdiocese of Miami.
Two days after his name surfaced in media reports, church and law enforcement officials confirmed Friday (Oct. 20) that Mercieca is the priest accused of sexually abusing former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., as a youth.
Michael Edmondson, a spokesman for the Palm Beach County State Attorney, said Foley will not press charges against Mercieca.
“It’s a closed case as far as we are concerned,” Edmondson said.
But Mercieca, 72, could face further sanctions from the church after an internal investigation, according to the Archdiocese of Miami, where Mercieca served from 1965 to 2002.
No other allegations involving Mercieca have been reported to the archdiocese, church officials said Friday. However, Mary Ross Agosta, a church spokeswoman, urged anyone with allegations against Mercieca to come forward.
“Such behavior is morally reprehensible, canonically criminal and inexcusable,” Ross Agosta said in a statement. “The events described are totally contrary to the ministry of a priest.”
Mercieca, who now lives on the Maltese island of Gozo, has said he had a intimate relationship with Foley _ including fondling and skinny-dipping _ but denied the two ever had sex, according to media reports.
Foley, 52, resigned his seat in Congress last month after it was revealed that he had had sexually explicit online conversations with teenage congressional pages.
Under the order from Miami Archbishop John Favalora, Mercieca is not allowed to present himself as a priest or administer the sacraments. The bishop of Gozo has been notified of the Miami archdiocese’s actions, Ross Agosta said.
“An apology is due Mr. Foley for the hurt he has experienced,” Ross Agosta said.
TIMELINE OF REV. ANTHONY MERCIECA’S SERVICE IN ARCHDIOCESE OF MIAMI:
Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart, Lake Worth
Nov. 4, 1965-Aug. 31, 1967
Assistant Pastor, St. Clare, North Palm Beach
Aug. 31, 1967-May 29, 1969
Assistant Pastor, St. Coleman, Pompano Beach
May 29, 1969-June 14, 1973
Assistant Pastor, Sacred Heart, Homestead
June 14, 1973-Oct. 7, 1975
Assistant Pastor, St. James, Miami
Oct. 7, 1975-Dec. 10, 1985
Associate Pastor, St. Ambrose, Deerfield Beach
Dec. 10, 1985-April 22, 1987
Associate Pastor, St. Henry, Pompano Beach
April 22, 1987-June 16, 1993
Associate Pastor, Blessed Trinity, Miami
June 16, 1993-Oct. 21, 2002
Retired
Oct. 21, 2002
Source: Archdiocese of Miami
KRE/PH END BURKE
Editors: To obtain a photo of Mercieca, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.
