"Any suggestion that Mark Foley is a pedophile is catagorically false. He denies having any sexual contact with a minor."
To say that pedophilia exists only when the individual engages in sexual "contact" with minors is an anachronism in this day and age. They don't call it internet "sex" or phone "sex" for nothing, I'm afraid.
True, it might not have the exact damaging effects that the acts might have if there was physical contact, but the emotional, psychological, moral and spiritual damage can be just as awful.
Just like stalking that is done by phone or IM or email---it can be just as frightening and damaging as stalking done physically in proximity to the victim.