Abuse Victims Want Priest Retried, by Mary Conway, WXYZ [Detroit MI], April 6, 2006

Abuse Victims Want Priest Retried

By Mary Conway
WXYZ [Detroit MI]
April 6, 2006

http://www.wxyz.com/wxyz/nw_local_news/article/
0,2132,WXYZ_15924_4600806,00.html

Victims of sexual abuse sent a strong message to the Wayne County Prosecutor, Thursday, because of her decision to not retry an accused priest.

Three people, who were sexually abuse by priests, met outside the Wayne County Prosecutor's office and signed a letter protesting Prosecutor Kym Worthy's decision to not retry Edward Olszewski.

Olszewski was convicted in 2003 of abusing children while he was a priest, but his case was thrown out on a technicality.

Three survivors of sexual abuse by priests stood outside the Wayne County Prosecutor's office, Thursday, protesting the decision to not retry an accused priest. Photo by the The WXYZ-TV Channel 7

Sexual abuse survivor, Bill McAlary, said "What is he doing in Florida? Is he abusing kids? Is he on a sex offenders list in Florida? Is he on the offenders list in Michigan? We don't know that. Just because they say it's unlikely that he will practice in Florida, he might move to California or Texas."

The three survivors said not retrying him sends the wrong message.

David Clohessy, sexual abuse survivor, said, "What we'd like to see the prosecutor do is retry the case. If that can't happen, we'd like to see her aggressively use her bully pulpit and aggressively reach out to other victims and witnesses and see if she can bring another case."

Prosecutors would not comment on the letter because they had yet to see it. A spokesperson said they welcome any other victims who come forward, but it would be a difficult case to retry because Olszewski has already served his sentence.