PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
PETER SMITH
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
petersmith@post-gazette.com
A 74-year-old priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg has been charged with sexual abuse of a minor.
The Rev. John T. Sweeney was arraigned in Leechburg Monday afternoon on a charge of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor, with $50,000 unsecured bond under the condition that he stay away from minors and witnesses in the case.
The abuse was alleged to have happened around 1991-92, according to a criminal complaint filed in the case. The victim came forward after watching the movie “Spotlight,” which was about the sexual abuse scandal in Boston. Father Sweeney was a pastor at St. Margaret Mary in Lower Burrell at the time of the alleged abuse, which reportedly happened at the school there.
State Attorney General Josh Shapiro said at a press conference the charges were recommended by a statewide grand jury. Mr. Shapiro lauded the alleged victim as a “hero” seeking to protect other children. He asked anyone with information about abuse cases to come forward: “We care about you.”
Lower Burrell police started the investigation after reports were made to Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau. According to the criminal complaint, the priest forced the victim, then a fourth grader, to perform oral sex on him, warning him he would be in trouble if he didn’t comply. The victim said that Father Sweeney’s secretary brought him milk and cookies after the sexual assault.
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