Fort Worth Diocese Settles Sexual Abuse Case

By Darren Barbee
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
August 21, 2012

http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/08/21/4196492/fort-worth-diocese-settles-sexual.html

A man who accused disgraced priest Philip Magaldi of sexual abuse settled his claim Tuesday with the Fort Worth Roman Catholic Diocese, according to a news release.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed at the man's request, the diocese said.

The man's attorney, Tom McElyea of Fort Worth, said the abuse started in about 1994 when his client was 9 years old. It occurred in Tarrant County.

Magaldi was in the process of being defrocked when he died in 2008. Prior to his death, the diocese announced he was HIV positive. McElyea said his client does not have the virus.

As with two other known accusations against Magaldi, the man was subjected to enemas as part of his abuse, McElyea said.

In 1997, while serving at a parish in North Richland Hills, Magaldi was accused of paying a young man to give him enemas. Within two years, another man came forward to say Magaldi had given him enemas and had raped him as a boy. People also claimed Magaldi engaged in inappropriate behavior, including visiting Web chat rooms "looking for minors" and possessing "pedophilic material," according to court documents.

Bishop Kevin Vann, leader of the diocese, said in a statement that "he is deeply sorry for any sexual abuse this victim may have endured and suffered by Magaldi."

McElyea said the diocese worked to resolve the matter and "hopefully my client can live a productive life."

Magaldi served at St. John the Apostle Catholic Church in North Richland Hills. Only after the second allegation came against him was he removed in 1999 by Bishop Joseph P. Delaney.

In addition to accusations of sexual abuse, he was a convicted embezzler of church funds from his Rhode Island parish. He had also been accused of perjury in 1985 at the second attempted murder trial of socialite Claus von Bulow.

Darren Barbee, 817-390-7126