ALBANY (NY)
Albany Times Union
By CAROL DeMARE, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, May 19, 2005
ALBANY -- The Albany Roman Catholic Diocese said Wednesday it would investigate allegations that the pastor of Holy Cross Church molested an altar boy 32 years ago.
Attorney John Aretakis filed a lawsuit this week against Bishop Howard Hubbard, the diocese, Holy Cross parish, and the priest, the Rev. Daniel J. Maher, on behalf of the alleged victim, Thomas G. Clements III, now 44, of Colonie.
Clements claimed he was sexually assaulted twice by Maher in 1973, when he was 12, at a camp on Saratoga Lake.
Maher denied the allegations, and the diocese said the priest poses no threat to the parish.
Clements' lawsuit, filed in Saratoga County Supreme Court, is seeking $2 million in damages and accuses the diocese of negligence for allowing Maher to remain in active ministry at a parish where there is an elementary school.