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  Protest Resumes outside Church
Diocese Says It Can't Investigate Priest without Help from Former Altar Boy Claiming Abuse

By Carol DeMare
Albany Times Union [Albany NY]
June 13, 2005

ALBANY -- Victims of clergy sexual abuse protested Sunday for the second week outside Holy Cross Church, demanding the removal of the Rev. Daniel J. Maher from active ministry. Maher, pastor of the parish on Western Avenue, was accused last month by a former altar boy of molesting him 32 years ago.

Protesters representing Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, SNAP, are claiming that children attending Holy Cross School are at risk.

SNAP said in a statement it would continue walking outside the church "until the bishop and diocesan leaders put the safety of the Holy Cross children first."

A diocesan spokesman said the diocese is waiting for cooperation from Thomas G. Clements III, now 44, of Colonie, who claimed he was sexually assaulted twice by Maher in 1973, when he was 12, at a camp on Saratoga Lake. Clements made the allegations at a May 18 news conference.

"We have looked into it, but the information we have is so limited," diocese spokesman Ken Goldfarb said Sunday.

"He (Clements) still has to come forward to the diocese with specifics so that we can try to investigate and see if there's something that can corroborate what he has to say," Goldfarb said.

Without thorough information, the diocese can't determine whether a priest should be removed, he said.

Clements made initial contact with the diocese's Independent Mediation Assistance Program, but didn't follow up, Goldfarb said.

"We would need his cooperation in order to do a real productive investigation," he said.

Also at issue is a lawsuit attorney John Aretakis said he filed on behalf of Clements in state Supreme Court in Saratoga County.

The diocese says Aretakis filed a summons with the clerk's office, but no complaint -- which would include allegations -- was attached.

Goldfarb also took exception to SNAP's demonstrations. "I think it's unfortunate that these individuals continue to disrupt the Sunday worship of that church in this fashion," he said.