BUFFALO, N.Y. — Michael Whalen, 52, of Buffalo broke his silence Tuesday, recounting stories of alleged sexual abuse at the hands of now retired Diocese of Buffalo priest Norbert Orsolits in Springville almost 40 years ago. Whalen says the incident lead him down a path of bad grades, drugs and alcohol. Whalen's attorney says he represents another victim claiming sexual abuse from another local priest, Father Robert Conlin.

Whalen is working with Road to Recovery, a nonprofit based out of New Jersey that works with sexual abuse victims and their families, and continues to push state lawmakers to pass the Child Victim's Rights Act. Leaders say the measure, which would empower victims to hold their abusers accountable, continues to pass the Assembly but hasn't reached a Senate vote.

"I'm not scared to hide my face or what happened to me anymore. I did it for too long. This is something that's been hidden, I guess, and it needs to be confronted," said Whalen. "I think it's part of my recovery, to get it off my chest, because I know out there, there's more victims, more people out there that need to step forward."

The Diocese of Buffalo will have more to say on these important issues later this week.

"Every complaint that we receive is addressed pursuant to a protocol that is designed both to protect children and to respond to victims. We will not comment on these particular complaints except to note that Fr. Norbert Orsolits was removed from ministry in 2003 and that Fr. Robert Conlin died in 1997," said George Richert, Diosese of Buffalo director of communications.