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« Tonight: All that jazz -- several schools' worth | Today | Today's front page » February 14, 2008Update: Texas diocese: Ex-R.I. priest is HIV positiveFORT WORTH, Texas -- Roman Catholic church officials in Texas say a priest who is accused of sexually abusing children --and who once served as a pastor in Rhode Island -- is HIV positive. The Rev. Philip Magaldi was removed as a priest in 1999 after sexual misconduct allegations arose in Rhode Island and Fort Worth, Texas. “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 . Olson said the diocese does not have access to Magaldi’s medical records, because of privacy laws. But he said the diocese believes Magaldi has been HIV positive at least since 2003. The diocese says it started alerting people who claim Magaldi assaulted them. Church officials also say they also notified parishes where Magaldi served. Magaldi left the diocese in spring 2001, for Florida, and returned in spring, 2003. He has been living in a retirement center since his return, the diocese said. Magaldi had a checkered history while in Rhode Island, which included being accused of lying as part of the infamous 1980s case involving socialite Claus von Bulow and serving time after pleading guilty to embezzling more than $120,000 from his North Providence parish, St. Anthony's. Then, in 1997 and 1998, he was accused by men in both Massachusetts and Texas of having molested them in the course of his priestly duties, in Rhode Island in the 1970s and in Fort Worth in 1995. In a statement this evening, the Diocese of Providence said it is in the process of contacting those who have made allegations against Magaldi to share the Texas Diocese's announcement about his HIV status. -- With reports from The Dallas Morning News, Providence Journal archives and The Associated Press In the 1980s, Magaldi, charged with lying in a sworn statement on behalf of von Bulow as part of the legal maneuvering surrounding the second trial, saw perjury and obstruction-of-justice charges dropped in 1987. But his legal problems were far from over. In 1992, he was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing more than $120,000 from his North Providence parish, St. Anthony’s. Authorities said he had spent some of the stolen money for tropical vacations with adolescent boys and once gave a teenager he met in a park enough money to get a car. He served eight months before being paroled. After the first allegation of molestation in the late 1990s, The Dallas Morning News reported, church investigators found him “guilty of sexual exploitation” and he was barred from supervising altar boys but allowed to continue as chaplain of the Fort Worth diocesan Boy Scout program. After the second, he was suspended, but returned to part-time ministry after his accuser died; he was accused of misconduct with boys at his new job and removed again. Still, in 2000 he celebrated Mass with Pope John Paul II at the pontiff’s private chapel at the Vatican. Parishioners argued that if he was fit to share the altar with the pope, he ought to be able to preach in North Richland Hills, Texas. He was allowed to continue his ministry at the North Richland Hills retirement home where he was living until August 2006, when a new bishop revoked all his priestly powers. But The Morning News reported in November that he had defied the bishop’s orders and remained in ministry at the home. A message left for him there this month was not returned. But Jerry Koller, a friend and former parishioner of Father Magaldi’s who described himself as the ex-priest’s caregiver, said Wednesday that Magaldi is in “too weak condition” to continue his ministry. Koller said Magaldi suffers from dementia and has had a series of strokes, which have affected his eyesight and left him legally blind. In its statement tonight, the Diocese of Providence said anyone who wishes to report sexual misconduct by Magaldi or "by anyone who serves the church" to contact Lt. Robert McCarthy, Office of Education & Compliance, 401-941-0760. Posted by Mike McKinney CommentsAnon | February 14, 2008 11:59 PM link I hope they nail this creep. I never had any problems with priests or nuns over the years, but I know of people who did, who were scarred for life by their experiences. I also hope that the church decides to have mandatory HIV testing done for all clergy, and to post any results publicly. It's the least they can do. Hope | February 15, 2008 1:45 PM link The position of divine judge is occupied. I am ill qualified for the position. What I can do is pray and I shall continue to do so. Donnajean Hatch-Sherlock | March 10, 2008 10:03 AM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
I knew Philip Magaldi from St. Anthony's Church and found him to be one of the best preachers that I knew. He was instrumental in my return to Church after I left for 20 years. Once the money issue went down and he left Rhode Island I found it hard to like his successor and I left that parish. For years I wished he would return as I felt he built the annual Feast from one day to four, extremely successful, and something I volunteered at yearly. I have never been so involved in a Church and its activities as I was when Magaldi was at St. Anthony's.
I never knew of any accusations of sexual misconduct while he was in Rhode Island or even Texas and considered them rumors. I also refused to believe that he could possibly steal the money from the Church he seemed to love so much. Let's just say he "packed them in" when he'd give a sermon and I found him outstanding at this particular aspect of his duties.
I never paid attention to the Von Bulow case because I always felt Claus was guilty as sin and Magaldi not. Now I am not so sure anymore.
After seeing the 11 p.m. news tonight I cannot believe was I was seeing and hearing. HIV? And saying nothing for 5, or possibly more years? How could someone who had meetings with the Pope possibly do so much wrong to people? All the accusations are true - I know this now - and I am extremely distraught that one person could do so much evil in the position he held. Now I think I know why I have once again left the Church almost 4 years ago...........I don't trust priests anymore.
Not only did a priest steal money from the very people who were in his charge but now he has possibly, and probably, made some very ill or worse. I cannot judge this man - only God can - and one day God will. May God be with anyone that Magaldi has hurt and also those, like myself, who were deceived beyond belief.