ALBANY (NY)
Newswatch 50
A church has obtained a temporary restraining order against an attorney who has brought several sex-abuse lawsuits against the Catholic Diocese of Albany.
Holy Cross Church and School says lawyer John Aretakis has harassed parishioners and publicly accused a pastor of sexual abuse.
The church says 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, Reverend Daniel Maher, of sexually abusing a minor 30 years ago.
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. An internal investigation by the church found "no reasonable cause" for the allegations. (Associated Press)