BishopAccountability.org
	Church Obtains Temporary Restraining Order against Attorney Associated Press, carried in Newsday [Melville NY] September 7, 2005 ALBANY, N.Y. -- A Roman Catholic church here has obtained a temporary restraining order against an attorney who it said harassed parishioners and publicly accused a pastor of sexual abuse, the church said Wednesday. Holy Cross Church and School obtained the order against John Aretakis, who has brought several sex-abuse lawsuits against the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany in recent years. In a statement released Wednesday, the church said Aretakis has been involved in at least three confrontations with parishioners and neighbors at the church since June when he and a small group began picketing Sunday masses and leafleting cars. Aretakis also publicly accused the pastor, Rev. Daniel Maher, of sexually abusing a minor 30 years ago, according to the release. Aretakis is the attorney for Thomas Clements, who filed a lawsuit in May alleging that Maher raped him twice when he was an altar boy at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in West Albany. Earlier this month, an internal investigation by the church found "no reasonable cause" for the allegations against Maher and he remains a priest in good standing, according to the statement. The temporary restraining order requires Aretakis and his associates to stay at least 100 feet away from the church and school entrances. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 13.