Contact: John Moynihan, jmoynihan@votf.org, (617) 558-5252, (617) 680-2131 cell

For Immediate release

Church officials in Ft. Worth TX have recently revealed that
accused sexual abuser Fr. Philip Magaldi is HIV positive

February 15, 2008 - Church officials in Ft. Worth TX have recently revealed that accused sexual abuser Fr. Philip Magaldi is HIV positive. Fr. Magaldi has served in the dioceses of Ft. Worth and Providence RI. He was removed from ministry in 1999 and his case for laicization is pending at the Vatican.

Experience has shown that victims of abuse often come forward when they are gently, repeatedly prodded to do so by those in authority. We believe that empathetic appeals, in person, by Bishops Kevin Vann of Ft. Worth and Thomas Tobin of Providence to parishioners could be very helpful in bringing survivors forward. We urge them to personally speak at all the Masses in parishes where Fr. Magaldi has served, warn the parishioners of the danger posed by Fr. Magaldi, and urge them to report any abuse to legal authorities and to seek medical testing.

“For decades the bishops have put the interests of the hierarchy before the health and well being of its faithful,” said Mary Pat Fox, President of Voice of the Faithful. “This is an opportunity for Bishops Vann and Tobin to demonstrate that they are true and caring spiritual shepherds,” said Fox.

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Press contact

John Moynihan (617) 558-5252, (617) 680 2131 ©

About Voice of the Faithful (VOTF) VOTF is a worldwide movement of concerned mainstream Catholics formed in response to the clergy sexual abuse crisis. The group’s mission is to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church. Its goals are to support survivors of clergy sexual abuse, support priests of integrity, and shape structural change within the Catholic Church in full accordance and harmony with Church teaching.