Thursday February 14, 2008

Accused priest who served in Fort Worth has HIV

Statement by David Clohessy, National Director of SNAP 314-566-9790

Now more than ever bishops in every diocese where this pedophile priest worked must reach out to others who have suffered horrific childhood trauma and may now be suffering from this dreaded infection. Bishops usually do virtually nothing in terms of real outreach. They passively sit back instead of compassionately reaching out to those suffering in silence and self blame. The diocese has access to church bulletins, diocesan newspapers and websites, they can make announcements from the pulpit . The bishop should personally visit every parish where Magaldi worked and urge anyone who was harmed by this predator to come forward.

Current and former church members and employees who have been around Magaldi have a moral and a civic duty to report to law enforcement if they have witnessed or suspected crimes. . The over whelming majority of clergy sex abuse victims never come forward. But gentle, careful prodding by loved ones can prod victims into getting help. That is what must be done now.

Contact:
Barbara Dorris, Outreach Director for SNAP 314-862-7688
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
SNAPnetwork.org

Diocese: Accused priest who served in Fort Worth has HIV
Thursday, February 14, 2008

By SAM HODGES / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

Officials of the Catholic Diocese of Forth Worth say a priest who served there and faces sexual misconduct allegations has recently acknowledged that he has tested positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Father Philip Magaldi worked in the Fort Worth Diocese from 1990 to 1992, and again from 1993 to 1999.

“Magaldi acknowledged to me that he is HIV positive. We do not know when Magaldi was diagnosed as HIV positive,” Fort Worth Vicar General Michael F. Olson said in press release.

Father Olson said the diocese does not have access to Mr. Magaldi’s medical records, because of privacy laws. But he said the diocese believes Mr. Magaldi has been HIV positive at least since 2003.

He said three people who have either alleged sexual misconduct by Mr. Magaldi or “expressed concern about Mr. Magaldo’s behavior” have been notified of the HIV diagnosis, as have other dioceses where Mr. Magaldi worked.

Father Olson urged anyone who has had “close personal or questionable contact with Magaldi” to call the diocese at 817 560-3300, Ext. 201.

Mr. Magaldi first was a parish priest in the Diocese of Providence, R.I.

He came to the Fort Worth Diocese in 1990 and served until 1992 as pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Henrietta, as well as St. William Catholic Church in Montague, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Nocona, and St. Jerome Catholic Church in Bowie.

He left the diocese in 1992 and pleaded guilty to embezzling $123,000 from a Rhode Island parish he served as pastor. He was sentenced to two years in prison.

On returning to the Fort Worth Diocese in late 1993, he was assigned as an assistant pastor to St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in North Richland Hills. He served there until his dismissal in 1999.

Mr. Magaldi was removed from active priesthood by the late Bishop Joseph Delaney after allegations of sexual misconduct arose in Rhode Island and Fort Worth. In August 2006, Bishop Kevin Vann of the Fort Worth Diocese removed Mr. Magaldi from all ministries.

Bishop Vann is seeking “laicization” of Mr. Magaldi, which is a request to remove him from clerical status.

Mr. Magaldi left the diocese in 1992 and pleaded guilty to embezzling $123,000 from a Rhode Island parish he served as pastor. He was given a two year prison sentence that involved work release.