PENNSYLVANIA
Tribune-Review
Editorial
A former pastor accused of sexually abusing a 10-year-old boy at St. Margaret Mary Church’s school in Lower Burrell during the 1991-92 academic year should cause all to wonder, in Psalm 13’s words, “How long, O Lord?”
Indeed, how long until pedophilia’s blight by church clergy upon innocent children is eradicated?
The Rev. John Thomas Sweeney, 74, of Greensburg, will plead not guilty to the single count of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse filed against him by the state Attorney General’s Office, his lawyer says. The alleged victim, now 35 and in the Coast Guard, didn’t report the abuse until last September, then testified before a state grand jury, which last year detailed horrific, widespread abuse and cover-ups in the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
This case seemingly lacked a cover-up. The Diocese of Greensburg said it was unaware until the victim came forward, then took action to keep the accused from acting as a priest and interacting with minors, and stayed mum at authorities’ request.
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