ALBANY (NY)
Times-Union
By CAROL DeMARE, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, September 15, 2005
ALBANY -- The principal of a Catholic school testified Wednesday that leafleting by a group seeking the removal of the pastor of an affiliated church has frightened children and worried parents.
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Sister Mary Ellen Owens, principal of Holy Cross School, said she was frightened when attorney John Aretakis, who represents victims of priest sexual abuse, questioned her at the door of the school last May.
At a hearing in state Supreme Court, Owens was the first witness called by attorney Michael Costello, who represents Holy Cross Church in Albany.
For the past 17 weeks, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests have protested outside the church on Western Avenue during Sunday services for the removal of the Rev. Daniel J. Maher.
Last week, the church obtained a temporary restraining order from state Supreme Court Justice Thomas Spargo to keep Aretakis and his supporters 100 feet from church entrances. The church is seeking an injunction at the hearing, which began Wednesday.