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April 30, 2008

Update: A plea to Bishop Tobin to reach out to abused

The national director for a group representing clergy abuse victims called this morning on the Most Rev. Thomas Tobin, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Providence, to take a more active role in helping prosecute two priests who once worked in the diocese and are now facing allegations that they molested children.

``We’re begging Bishop Tobin to be a true pastor and reach out to the wounded,’’ said David Clohessy of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, describing Tobin’s response to the issue so far as ``reckless.’’

``When any of us have an ability to jail a serial predator’’ and chose instead to do ``the bare minimum,’’ Clohessy said, ``we believe that is reckless.’’

Clohessy says his group believes that there are, in the Providence diocese, victims of abuse by The Revs. Phillip A. Magaldi and Aaron J. Cote, or at least witnesses, who, if Tobin encouraged them to step forward, could help police criminally prosecute the two priests.

Father Magaldi served in at least three Rhode Island parishes from 1961 through the 1980s before being transferred to parishes in Texas in 1990. Father Magaldi was removed from active priesthood in 1999 after a sexual-misconduct allegation emerged here. Two more local allegations arose in 2002 and 2007. Three other allegations have arisen in Texas. He lives in a private retirement center in Texas and is now reportedly HIV positive.

Last year the Dominican order and the archbishop of Washington awarded a Maryland man $1.25 million to settle a suit that he was allegedly abused as a teenage boy by the Rev. Aaron J. Cote, who later, in 2003, was transferred to Providence to be a youth minister at St. Pius V Church. Clohessy said this morning that police in western Massachusetts are now investigating another allegation that Cote molested two young brothers after the Providence diocese suspended him in 2005.

The Diocese issued a statement today, saying it's "important to note that allegations of sexual abuse relative to Fr. Magaldi were not made until after he left the Diocese of Providence. The diocese did however launch an investigation into the allegations. The findings were then forwarded to the Diocese of Ft. Worth to assist in their investigation. Additionally, Bishop Tobin has written to Bishop Kevin Vann of the Diocese of Ft. Worth in support of his efforts to seek laicization of Fr. Magaldi. The Office of Education and Compliance is in frequent communication with local law enforcement concerning allegations of sexual abuse by clergy."

It added, "Upon receiving a credible allegation of abuse relative to Fr. Cote, the Diocese of Providence immediately requested that his order remove him from ministry. Fr. Cote was never a diocesan priest, rather a Dominican priest assigned to the diocese by his order."

Clohessy suggested that if Tobin does not respond in the more aggressive way, Catholics could withhold church donations and give their money to other charitable causes.

The Diocese responded by saying it "is unfortunate that SNAP would encourage the faithful to withhold donations that support a number of charitable efforts for those in need. As state leaders face difficult choices and are forced to cut social service programs, organizations such as the Diocese of Providence make every effort tofill gaps created by such cuts. Withholding charitable donations to the diocese only hurts the most vulnerable Rhode Islanders who struggle each day to provide life’s basic needs for their families."

The diocese says anyone who wants to report sexual misconduct by anyone who serves the church to contact Lt. Robert McCarthy, Office of Education & Compliance, at 941-0760. McCarthy is in "regular contact with local law enforcement about such matters," according to the diocese.

-- Journal staff writer Tom Mooney

Posted by Mike McKinney at 1:56 PM | Permalink

Comments

The Pope already addressed this. SNAP obviously misunderstood.

Ginja | April 30, 2008 3:59 PM link

For the life of me, I cannot understand why only a very few of the priests who were found guilty of sexually abusing children were ever imprisoned.They are predators. Other men and women who have been found guilty of these serious crimes have had trials, as they should, and put where they belong: PRISON. I am a Catholic and a practicing one at that, but, no wonder these crimes have been committed repeatedly over the years. The men, ordained or not, who commit these crimes, even if it is only once, should be DEFROCKED IMMEDIATELY. This has done more irreparable harm to the church than anything in our history.

Dolores Jordan | May 1, 2008 12:00 AM link

NO ONE should be let "off the hook" when a child
is harmed sexually...and that MUST include, to the highest extent, the clergy and those who protect these predators. The Bishop in my opinion is just as guilty as the preditors that continue this abuse. No wonder people stop giving to the church.
I have no use for a "church" that perpetuates this kind of abuse...to me there's no difference
between the Catholic Church (in this matter) and
those who belong to the FLDS.

PJ | May 1, 2008 7:22 AM link

I agree in the strongest way possible with Delores Jordan's comments.

Sadly, most states do not have adequate criminal or civil laws regarding the sexual abuse of children and the criminal statute of limitation has run out.

Delaware passed the Child Victims Law which was signed on July 10, 2007. Beside totally removing both criminal and civil statutes of limitation it provides a "WINDOW" of two years, open until July 10, 2009, that permits previously time barred cases to be brought forward if they have merit.

And before anyone takes offense that Delaware's Law attacks the catholic church or any church, let me assure you that it covers members of ALL - institutions, public and private schools, hospitals, along with mothers, fathers, doctors, ministers, etc. I think that is clear.

My church, the Roman Catholic Church, should be leading the parade in its pro-active stance in regard to the Trafficking of Human Beings for Sexual Exploitation, whether abroad or here at home.

Yes, Ginja, the Pope HAS addressed this, WITH WORDS, but it remains to be seen whether ALL bishops will follow what he has said or if those words will prove to be HOLLOW because no actions follow the words.

If the facts in the story above are true, and I have no reason to think they are not, Bishop Tobin should initiate his own formal proceeding to have these two defrocked. It appears that it is not possible to have them criminally tried and, if found guilty, put in jail where sexual predators belong.

It is truly unbelievable that even after Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States and after all he has said, that American bishops and their state Catholic Conferences still oppose, tooth and nail, the removal of all statutes of limitation regarding the sexual abuse of children and "Window"legislation that would PROTECT ALL THE CHILDREN IN THEIR STATES.

Such behaviour continues to embarrass the PEOPLE OF GOD.

If you or anyone you know was ever sexually abused as a minor child in the State of Delaware - BY ANYONE - you have until July 10, 2009 to register your case.

Sister Maureen Paul Turlish | May 1, 2008 7:33 AM link

Ginja seems to have this backward - SNAP has been addressing this since 1988 whereas the Pope (Vatican) waited until 2008. What Ginja and the Pope don't understand is the Bishops have been covering up sex crimes and should be "jailed" right along with the sex offending priests.

Bob Schwiderski | May 1, 2008 8:12 AM link

Are there 2 Bishop Tobin's or is this the same Bishop Tobin from Ohio, that AFTER pledging 'openess, honesty and transparency' (like all the bishops did in 2002), knowingly and intentionally allowed a Catholic priest who was convicted of a sex crime with a kid, to live on church property, where there was a daycare and swimming pool, that kids swam in daily?

Is this the same Bishop Tobin who warned no one -- not the community nor the parents of the kids who swam in that pool or attended that daycare?

Is this the same Bishop Tobin who once the media exposed this, continued to allow the priest to live there and did nothing to further warn parents or protect kids?

Isn't this the same Bishop who fought zealously, a victim driven child sexual abuse bill in Ohio, until it was gutted and defeated?

Will this tiger ever change its stripes?

Claudia Vercellotti | May 1, 2008 12:17 PM link

April 30, 2008

Update: A plea to Bishop Tobin to reach out to abused

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