Denial Typical of Sexual Abuse Perpetrators
The recent revelations concerning former Florida Rep. Mark R. Foley's sexual abuse at the hands of a Roman Catholic priest are neither surprising nor atypical. Most victims spend their lives trying to escape the horros of their past abuse and the perpetrators spend their lives as if they had done nothing wrong. Rev. Anthony Mercieca has admitted to nothing more than a relationship with Foley. In his own words, the priest concludes, "It's not something you call, I mean, rape or penetration or anything like that, you know, It was just fondling."
Abusers rarely admit publicly or even to themselves the harm they have caused by their leacherous behavior.