Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Religion Youth Pastor Watch: Brian Neiswender Update
Posted by Dan Savage on Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 11:05 AM
When Brian Neiswender made his first appearance in Youth Pastor Watch in June of last year—the Pennsylvania youth pastor was accused of sexually abusing teenage girls—his supporters insisted in the comments thread that Neiswender was innocent because 1. he’s simply too good, too full of the spirit of Jesus Christ, to have done such a thing and 2. his accusers were so ugly that no man—youth pastor or not—would ever want to molest one of them and 3. Neiswender's wife is hot and 4. SATAN!!! Not even a tape recording of Neiswender apologizing to one of his victims could convince them of Neiswender's guilt. "I hope (but my hope is in vain)," wrote Jen, "that when he is proven innocent of all charges that you will run another story giving the facts."
If Jen was hoping to see Neiswender make Youth Pastor Watch again, her hopes were not in vain. If she was hoping to see Neiswender proven innocent of all charges, well... she hoped in vain:
A former youth pastor pleaded no contest Monday to charges he inappropriately touched teenage girls in Luzerne County. Brian Neiswender was accused of inappropriately touching teenage girls while working at the Christ Community Church in Kingston. At a hearing in August, three of his alleged victims testified that between 2004 and 2006, Neiswender touched them inappropriately during youth group meetings and private music lessons....
The no contest plea means Neiswender does not admit to the charges of indecent assault and corruption of minors, but he also does not deny them.
Neiswender faces up to 19 years in prison but is likely to get little more than a year. His sentencing hearing is sentenced on July 20.
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4
I know from experience that churches tend to be too trusting of people, which is why this keeps happening over and over and over. It's a combination of naivete (they want to believe the best of people) and difficulty in acquiring volunteers that makes this problem rampant.
I know that when I went to various conferences for training, they were very adamant about protecting kids and watching out for people who might use the ministry as a way to get access to kids. They advocated background checks to make sure known abusers weren't applying, a minimum of two adults together in every group (no matter how small) for accountability, and including at least one woman on each team (since women statistically are less likely to molest children than men are). Unfortunately, few churches ever take the threat seriously, and as a result kids keep getting abused.
It's ironic, really...one of the church's main messages is that humanity is fallen and given to wicked behavior, and yet they don't diligently watch for that behavior from those they "employ" (paid or volunteer).
I know that when I went to various conferences for training, they were very adamant about protecting kids and watching out for people who might use the ministry as a way to get access to kids. They advocated background checks to make sure known abusers weren't applying, a minimum of two adults together in every group (no matter how small) for accountability, and including at least one woman on each team (since women statistically are less likely to molest children than men are). Unfortunately, few churches ever take the threat seriously, and as a result kids keep getting abused.
It's ironic, really...one of the church's main messages is that humanity is fallen and given to wicked behavior, and yet they don't diligently watch for that behavior from those they "employ" (paid or volunteer).
6
My bet, he entered the No-Contest plea because he'd probably would have been convicted anyway, and this way he can help protect himself from any Civil suite sure to follow.
7
The lesson here is that there are, to cast it in simple terms, good and evil reasons to do any job.
I've known cops who genuinely just wanted to help and protect people, and I've known cops who were in it mostly because it let them push people around.
Being a youth pastor isn't any different. Some of them are in it for the "right" reasons, and some of them want to touch kids and use religion to help keep them quiet about it.
I've known cops who genuinely just wanted to help and protect people, and I've known cops who were in it mostly because it let them push people around.
Being a youth pastor isn't any different. Some of them are in it for the "right" reasons, and some of them want to touch kids and use religion to help keep them quiet about it.
10
@1, Some innocent folks do plead no contest (i.e., in plea bargains), so let's not over generalize from one case. Still, it sounds like this guy is probably guilty.
11
this guy is guilty i know it first hand and i want to thank this site for being the only site that doesn't believe in sick pervert scumbags
12
I would like to know how "just a liar" knows first hand that "this guy is guilty." There are a lot of people who believe in "this guy" so it just may be possible that he is innocent. It would not be the first time an innocent man has been accused of a crime and pleaded no contest to spare his family any further trauma. Those of you who are so quick to judge may think twice when you or someone you love are accused of something you did not do. This young man has a family whose lives will be forever changed by this situation, whether he is guilty or innocent. They deserve our prayers and compassion.
13
and lets just let the girls rot in hell even though there technically is a 50/50 chance that they WERE molested by this man and that their lives/perception of men is forever altered.
I've been following these blogs, and the trend seems to be that all the Brian supporters claimed that he was, without a doubt, innocent. Now that he pleaded no contest, the claim is that he needs prayers. It's actually like he's the victim now. And the girls? Screw them, who cares about them.
It's disgusting.
I've been following these blogs, and the trend seems to be that all the Brian supporters claimed that he was, without a doubt, innocent. Now that he pleaded no contest, the claim is that he needs prayers. It's actually like he's the victim now. And the girls? Screw them, who cares about them.
It's disgusting.
14
Psalm 130 3-4 If You, O Lord, laid bare our sins, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness. Therefore You are feared. Let's face it folks, forgiveness in any situation is the Christian way and His judgements are just.
15
I BEG TO DIFFER WITH THE COMMENT NOLO COTENDRE IS NEVER USED BY INNOCENT PEOPLE. MY DAUGHTER IS A COURT REPORTER AND I CAN TELL YUOU IT IS USED MORE OFTEN THAN ONE MIGHT BELIEVE BY INNOCENT PEOPLE. IF YOU WERE FACING 20 YEARS AND WAS INNOCENT AND YOUR ATTORNEY SAID YOU WERE MORE PROBABLE THAN NOT GOING TO GET CONVICTED AND SENTQANCED TO 20 YEARS AND COULD GET 18 MONTHS BY PLEA BARGAINING THEN YOU MIGHT WELL PLEAD NOLO CONTENDRE. EVEN AN INNOCENT PERSON WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY TAKE THE LESSER TIME. SUCK ACCUSATIONS CAN BE FABRICATED, BY THE SWEETEST SOUNDING YOUNG GIRLS AND EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT KNOW THIS YOUNG MAN, I DON'T BLAME HIM FOTR TAKING THE PLEA.
16
This only proves that we are all capable of sin...children of God or not. Just because someone is saved doesn't make them immune to temptaion and evil. God allows us to have free will to make decisions. Brian made a horrible decision. He will be suffering the consequences of that decision, however...I believe that God forgives. Even things as evil and grotesque as this. If Brian truely repents and takes steps to never put himself in this position again...he should be forgiven. Again...this goes to show that Christianity and faith do not make you immune to sin.
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