-Caveat Lector- http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20021206-090439-7608r
Files: priest left as girlfriend dies By David D. Haskell >From the National Desk Published 12/6/2002 9:17 AM View printer-friendly version BOSTON, Dec. 6 (UPI) -- The clergy sex abuse scandal in Boston took a new twist Friday with revelations about a priest who admittedly failed to promptly call for help when the mentally troubled mother of their two children collapsed and died of a drug overdose. Previously secret documents from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston show Cardinal Bernard Law learned in 1993 that the Rev. James D. Foley was present in 1969 when his girlfriend died. According to the files, Law learned that Foley, 69, a priest in Needham in the early 1960s, fathered two children with the woman, who later underwent a lobotomy. "These documents say that a priest admitted he left a woman to die, and when he told Cardinal Law about it years later, Law did not refer the matter to police but rather left the priest in place to minister to more vulnerable women," attorney Roderick MacLeish Jr. said Thursday. MacLeish, whose law firm represents about half of the 450 plaintiffs in abuse suits against the archdiocese, said he found the Foley documents in eight boxes of files turned over by the church under court order. "The public has a right to know exactly what happened on that day in 1969, and what happened after Cardinal Law found out about it 10 years ago," MacLeish said. According to the documents, Foley met the married woman shortly after he was ordained in 1960, and had two children together by 1965. When the church learned of the relationship, Foley was transferred to the Diocese of Calgary, Alberta, where he allegedly began another affair with an 18-year-old married woman. That affair apparently prompted Calgary officials to have Foley returned to Boston, where the files indicated he was back in active ministry in 1969 and again leading a double life. Notes from Foley's meeting with Law, taken by Law's top deputy, Bishop John B. McCormack, indicated that Foley, after the unidentified woman collapsed, got dressed and left without calling for medical help. Only after he came back did he call 911 for paramedics, the files showed. Even though the notes referred to possible "criminal activity," there was no indication in the files that police were ever informed, MacLeish said. The state Attorney General's Office, which received copies of the files Thursday, said it is investigating. The McCormack notes also indicated the woman "had a lobotomy," apparently indicating Foley may have taken advantage of a mentally troubled woman. The notes of the 1993 meeting also indicated that Law's priority after learning about Foley's activities was to "avoid scandal" in the church, MacLeish said. Despite having this information, Law decided in 1995 to allow Foley to return to an active ministry in Salem where he remained until Thursday when he reportedly was abruptly suspended as his files were made public. Foley initially denied the story when interviewed Thursday afternoon on the New England Cable News network, saying, "There has never been the slightest hint of impropriety in my conduct." He said "absolutely not," when asked if he had fathered any children. However, when reporters confronted Foley with his now-public church files, Foley confessed. "It's all true," he said, adding that he never expected his "private" files to be made public. Copyright � 2002 United Press International View printer-friendly version Copyright � 2002 United Press International. All rights reserved. <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
