Saying that the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth has done little to stop abusive priests, victim advocates went to diocese offices Monday to ask Bishop Kevin Vann to visit parishes where an HIV-positive priest served and to urge victims to seek help.Pope Benedict XVI, in his recent visit to the United States, urged bishops, priests and parishioners to heal wounds caused by clergy sex abuse, said David Clohessy, national director of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).
The diocese is "not doing everything possible" about the Rev. Philip Magaldi, a former associate pastor in North Richland Hills, he said.
The Rev. Michael Olson, Fort Worth vicar general, said Monday that he has already visited the churches where Magaldi served. In addition, diocese officials in February notified the media about the priest, Olson told Clohessy and three other SNAP members.
Vann was out of town Monday.
The diocese also issued an alert in English and Spanish in the weekly diocese newspaper and on its Web site, Olson said.
SNAP asked that diocese officials move Magaldi, who has been accused of abusing minors, into a secure treatment facility. SNAP officials also want to buy an ad in the diocese newspaper asking victims or witnesses of abuse by Magaldi to contact them. Olson did not commit to accepting the ad Monday.
Vann has asked the Vatican to formally reject Magaldi's rights and status as a priest, diocese officials said. Magaldi is in poor health in an undisclosed nursing home, and the diocese does not have the authority or constitutional right to move him, Olson said.
The diocese said it has contacted the North Richland Hills Police Department about allegations of abuse against Magaldi.
"We're supporting the police and any legal action against him," Olson said. "I think what the pope said validates what we are doing."
Magaldi was associate pastor at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in North Richland Hills from 1993-99. In the early 1990s, he served at St. Mary Catholic Church in Henrietta, St. William Catholic Church in Montague, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Nocona and St. Jerome Catholic Church in Bowie.
He was removed from active priesthood in 1999 by Bishop Joseph Delaney after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him in Fort Worth and in Rhode Island, where he previously served and was convicted of embezzlement.
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