I can tell you how this case will end… a jailhouse suicide.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- A South Bend youth minister was charged with sexual misconduct for allegedly touching himself in the presence of a 14-year-old between March 9, 2008 and April 8, 2010.
The 14-year-old victim said Sweeney walked around his home naked. The victim witnessed Sweeney masturbating under a blanket or cover while looking at a computer, according to court documents.
Sweeney admitted to walking around his home naked. He also said he is addicted to pornography and has been for approximately 20 years, according to court records.
Source: Youth minister accused of sexual misconduct. by Jason Aubry
I should add that the reporter on this case neglects to mention the first name of pastor Sweeney. It's quite frustrating really… Does anyone know this perverts first name?
Sweeney worked at Christ the King Catholic church in South Bend. There are no comments about the case on the church website, nor is Sweeney mentioned.
*** Update 3/12/2013
By the power of Twitter and the Internet, we now have a name! GREG SWEENEY. I'd like to thank the anonymous tipster who left Sweeney's first name in the comments, and the 14 other people who sent me an email. Youth Pastor Greg Sweeny will forever be linked to this blog post. Now, on to his trial.
A better summary of the alleged crime was posted as Former South Bend youth minister accused of sex offense by Madeline Buckley of the South Bend Tribune.
27 comments:
Greg Sweeney
They are trying hard to keep this quiet,which looks bad for the church, unfortunately there will more to come on this story. There are so many sick people out there, with no limits and just make me sick
Dear Witch Hunters,
The only crie is the pass your giving the prosecutors of this non crime. Read the story carefully and you may find that you are equally guilty. What? You ask me? Yes you. The accuser sounds like his own son. If you have ever been naked in front of your own child you are now guilty based upon this arrest. If you have ever been caught msking love to your wife or, gasp, been caught masturbsting you can be charged now. Good job making this out to be something it is not. The church fired the guy before they rven know the facts.
That's all great and all but when your a leader of a youth group of not only the church but a school as well, you must be able to know the difference between right and wrong and teach our children that. The church did the correct actions and cannot take any chances with a man that would knowingly walk around his home playing with his self with a child in his home son or not. There is a time and a place for that, you have to agree. If he is willing to do what he did, what else is he capable of doing around our children. Maybe you will let him babysit your child or grand child. I personally knew Greg and this behavior is totally unacceptable.
Well I saw some naked guys at the YMCA in the locker room and there were young boys around. Lets get a posse and hang those guys. How dare they be naked. You better pray that you don't get caught masturbating or making love to your wife by your kids. You'll be thrown in jail with those guys at the gym. If you know Greg pray he goes free or we'll all be victims of this police state liberals are creating. The church fired him, they had too, but the first few posts on this blog suggested this was a scandal of the church. This is an individual with a problem that a huge portion of our population has. Everyone take a deep breathe and worry about your own freedom. In the meantime figure out a way to get politicians to stop Internet porn and don't rush to judgement. The press loves to undermine faith, morality, and family. I would trust this guy over almost anyone in the liberal media.
The church/school is not trying to keep this quiet. They sent out a memo about it to the parents this week. What more can anyone expect them to do? What he did IS a crime and he is paying for it.
Glad he was fired. Who does that? Really? It is not normal nor acceptable. Using BAD judgement in this situation degrades the trust that the church has provided.
The church is way ahead on this. If your bashing the church your just a hater. Sweeney was out of line but he broke no law. He is destroyed and his family is destroyed. Move on people.
Um, wacking off in front of a 14 year old IS against the law. Why do you think he was arrested?
"Gregory Sweeney, 56, is charged with performing sexual conduct in front of a minor, a Class D felony."
The kid walked in on him. He was trying to hide his sinful act. Wrong but not a crime. A good lawyer wins this case. Oh and if a person catches you I hope you get arrested and publicly disgraced.
Yeah a good lawyer will have to explain why this happened several times on different occasions too fool. Are you just thick headed or what. We will see what happens in the eyes of the law.
What happened to innocent until proven guilty? I guess that doesn't hold true in America anymore...
Sure it does, but it is a legal concept and does not apply to public opinion.
It is interesting reading these comments from many who do not even know the man. While what he did was wrong, many of your facts are also wrong. I am saddened by the whole thing. Also, he is not a pastor, he is a youth minister (really should be called a youth director as he is not ordained). The church did not sweep this under the rug as there was a statement on their website on the Monday after it happened.
If a child watches any TV or movie they will see far worse things. Obvious he was trying to hide his pathetic behavior.No story I read on this topic mentions his sexual activity was visible or done for anyone else to observe. If he told the investigators he was doing nothing there be no way to prove otherwise since his activity was under a blanket. Let him alone. His punishment is done. Sensationalism leads to poor legal judgement. His career and life here in this area are destroyed.
"If a child watches any TV or movie they will see far worse things" - How would you know what the child saw? Remember what the article said? The abuse took place over years. The child was subjected to reruns of a fat old bastard jerking off. One time is like accidental exposure in a movie - ten times is criminal abuse.
Let one of you who has not sinned throw the first stone.
That passage does not mean what you think it means.
Amen, mojoey
I bet you normally question what you read in the paper. I'm sure you normally recognize the press is incompetent and corrupt. This is true unless its about religion. If it even has a hint of scandal you voraciously eat up every word as if we're gospel. Here's what will come of this case,...nothing. If this guy is guilty of anything it's not locking his door and not getting a lawyer right away. Read the story moron. He didn't masturbate in front of a kid. He masturbated in front of a computer like you probably do. The kid suspected he was jerking off but couldn't see because he was under a blanket. I also love how your an expert in the interpretation of the bible. Well Pastor Mo I see that hypocrisy isn't alien to your religion, whatever denomination it's supposed to be. Church of hate and stupidity?
"I'm sure you normally recognize the press is incompetent and corrupt." No. I do not recognize this generalization; especially in a case like this one were the fact were recorded from the police blotter and witness statements.
Here's what will come of this case,...nothing. Again... not true. By simply reporting on the case we start a dialog about acceptable behavior for a youth minister. We also make sure the Sweeney cannot work with kids again. All potential employers need do is run his name through Google.
He didn't masturbate in front of a kid. He masturbated in front of a computer like you probably do. Sweeney allegedly masterbated in front of a computer and a 14-year-old child over a two-year period. Facts are facts, twists of language aside of course.
"I also love how your an expert in the interpretation of the bible." I am well versed in the excuses offered to make is seem like we should not hold pedophile priests and religious perverts accountable for their actions. The "cast a stone" trope is a common excuse offered by the uneducated. Does that make me an expert? No, it means I've researched my position and defended it against the simple arguments presented here by believers.
Hate. What I do has nothing to do with hate and everything to do with justice. Pastors, priests and ministeres desirve no special treatment, yet they get it anyway. My efforts are help level the playing field for the victims and spread the message that the people are just men. God has nothing to do with it.
Greg was my youth minister, and he doesn't deserve your blog post. He is a sinner like all of us, but he is not a bad man. This is how sin hurts the universal Church. We think we have private sins that aren't hurting anyone, but that is never true. Pornography is an addiction, and addictions can be very hard to break. It's possible that Greg wasn't even committing mortal sin (as opposed to venial) because there has to be full consent which isn't always there when a person is addicted. We cannot judge him (and I don't mean judicially). You don't have all the facts; you didn't even know his first name when you wrote your blog post.
In addition, the parish/pastor responded as best they could as quickly as they could. There was a prayer service Sunday night at the time when youth group normally takes place, and this coming Sunday, the youth will be meeting to talk about what happened.
I still have confidence in the Church, in the parish, and yes, even in Greg. We've all struggled with one sin or another. I'm sure Greg struggled against his sins and went to Confession because I know him. If God gives me another chance, if God gives Greg another chance, then who are we to condemn him?
It's a sex crime! Even if done in front of an adult.
If you read the article... He ADMITTED it. Nothing to prove. 20+ years being addicted to porn....having a child watch him touch himself.. He is guilty by his confession. Yes, in America.
Jane Catholic as a parent and meeting with Greg when in his role at church, it is unacceptable to have this man work with children. Having this blog brings awareness and a natural consequence to GREG's behavior.... No one is out to blast him. If you are embarrassed to have your behavior called out that should tell you it's wrong. Yes, addiction.... However, no evidence in 20+ years of porn addiction he did not seek treatment! Yes this is sad, I hope no children in his career has resulted on being a
Victim of his addiction. He can go to confession, seek treatment..... However, we must keep our children safe!!!
http://articles.wsbt.com/2013-07-03/former-youth-minister_40357409
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