The disgusting pedophilic e-mails and instant messages sent by former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fl.) to teenage House pages give rise to an important issue.

Whether it is insinuated by elected Democrats or Republicans, the message has been the same: that homosexuality and pedophilia are one and the same.

I've been watching the news in complete incredulity as public officials and the media imply ad nauseam that Mark Foley's homosexuality was sufficient warning to suspect criminal behavior.

Foley's repulsive conduct with children should be categorized for what it really is, pedophilia.

Pedophiles frequently molest children of the opposite sex. This has been proven time and again.

By conflating homosexuality with pedophilia, the media and elected officials are perpetuating a bigoted and irresponsible myth.

Neither homosexuals nor heterosexuals have a credibly proven propensity to molest children.