Is Congressman Mark Foley Responsible for his Actions?

Question

If Alcoholics Anonymous and the American Medical / Psychiatric Associations has anything to say about it, he is an innocent man.

In Alcoholics Anonymous, the actions that are exhibited or a result of the "drinking" Disease are uncontrolable and the person is merely a victim of his/her Disease. They are Powerless!
How can Foley be Responsible for his behaviour?

The APA in Diagnostic Service Manuals (since 1973) have revised their diagnostic criteria for homosexuality to include homosexuality as a normal human sexual orientation, like heterosexuality. Prior to 1973, homosexuality was a Disease and considered deviant sexual behaviour, like pedophilia.

Congressman Foley was even molested by a Catholic priest!

Foley tactfully entered into treatment for alcoholism and then plans address his other psychological issues, including sexual deviancy.

Should Foley be forgiven and excused from his actions because of his "disease"? And Powerless?

Answer 1

Wouldn’t it sweet if the republicans could just cover the Foley thing up without having to worry, and then they could simply continue the degradation of the constitution with out having to look over their shoulder.

Answer 2

Mark Foley as well as any other person who knew about his activity should be held responsible and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law! I am a member of AA and I would be held responsible if I did something like that, our prison system is full of people who did awful things while under the influence of drugs and or alcohol, they were held responsible. Many pediphiles who were molested as kids are in the prison system because they were held responsible. Mark Foley should have to go to jail and register as a sex offender. That is my opinion. I was a Republican until all of this I am now a Democrat I dont want to be a part of a party who covers up this kind of behavior for the sake of an election. These are our kids!

Answer 3

No. If Mark Foley thinks he is powerless to control his deviant sexual behavior then he should have been open about this lack of self control and should have chosen another profession to pursue. He could have revealed his homosexuality/alcoholism to one and all if he had others best interests at heart. As far as claiming to have been molested earlier that is a crutch he is using for self preservation. Get him off the government payroll and out of those kid's lives!

Answer 4

I don't have an alcohol addiction, but I am rather fond of a glass of wine or three with dinner. On those occasions when I do have a little too much, I've never really had the urge to send instant messages to underage boys! And it's not about being gay either. I have friends who are gay. They have consensual relationships with other gay adults. They don't prey on underage boys. Foley needs to quit grasping at excuses, and face the music. All those who enabled this behavior, and then tried to cover it up (for political purposes), should be hung out to dry as well.

Answer 5

Alcholism does not cause child molestation. It is true that addiction is a disease and that most addicts have little control over their usage. However, that doesn't excuse their behavior, whether it is drunk driving, abuse, or whatever. The addict IS responsible for getting treatment and recovering. They aren't responsible for being an addict, but are responsible for getting better and not harming others.

By your question, I can tell you don't understand the law or addiction. No judge, psychologist, or doctor would excuse his behavior becuase he is an alcoholic. That would be enabling. By the way, half of the people in jail are addicts. If the law allows them to do anything, as you suggest, why are so many of them in jail?

Answer 6

Mark Foley is a grown man and is responsible for his actions. He should be held accountable for his actions. If he did in fact break the very laws he championed, then he deserves imprisonment to the fullest extent of the law. I am sorry to hear about his childhood molestation, but it does not make what he has done moral, ethical, or even legal.

Answer 7

I think this is a bunch of bs. I dont care if a person is addicted to heroin, alcohol, caffeine, meth, or whatever that person IS responsible for their own actions. Foley used his power and his position to sexually harrass a young boy who was in a horrible position. He depended on Foley's good will to help him in his job as a page. Pages are the top of the crop in political science these are our future politions and this particular boy learned a hard lesson too young. Its a shame on America that Foley is not in jail right now.

Answer 8

I do not think he should be forgiven. Is there proof that he was molested by a priest? I am sorry, he should accept his punishment and know that there is NO EXCUSE for his actions. He is a disgrace to our government and I am ashamed for him. How these other countries must laugh at our government. I am proud to be an American and we need to weed out the bad in the government and get people in there who are honest and God-fearing.

Answer 9

First I think it is oversimplifying to say that AA believes that drinking absolves you of responsibility, in fact I believe that AA preaches responsibility first, and that you can hope and ask for forgiveness, not that you will instantly receive it by claiming alcoholism . Nor do I believe that AA wants to see everyone who does something wrong simply claim alcoholism to get off the charge. What does MAD say about responsibility for drunk driving?

Foley deserves to do prison time, this is rape, it is pedophilia, it is a crime, and he is the one that wrote the law. The law he wrote did not include a caveat absolving those with alcohol issues.

Answer 10

He is ABSOLUTELY responsible for his actions. The "coming out", the so-called alcoholism, the long ago alledged abuse, are much too convenient. He committed a CRIME against a juvenile just by his im's and e-mails. Remember the guys caught by NBC, maybe NBC should set up a sting within the halls of Congress.