Anti-Gay Scientologists Backed Mark Foley

Source: New York Post
Date: October 4, 2006

by Niles Lathem and Ian Bishop

Mark Foley, who resigned from Congress because he got caught sending sexually suggestive e-mails to teenage male pages, had a political relationship with the very anti-gay Church of Scientology, it was revealed yesterday.

The controversial cult-like church has major operations in Clearwater, Fla., which just happens to be in Foley's district.

The group also hosted a fund-raiser for Foley in May 2003 when he was considering a Senate run.

It posted photographs of a smiling Foley posing with key Scientology officials who presented him with a copy of founder L. Ron Hubbard's tome "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health."

That book defines "homosexuality" as a "sexual perversion."

Although he never officially came out of the closet, that Foley was gay was one of the worst-kept secrets in Washington.

A spokeswoman for the church did not return calls seeking comment.