Key Takeaways
- Father Philip Magaldi was publicly identified on the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy.
- According to the Report, Magaldi is accused of sexually abusing nine boys.
- Magaldi remained in ministry for years before his faculties were removed following multiple allegations.
Who Was Father Philip Magaldi?
Father Philip Magaldi was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Providence on December 18, 1960. He served at numerous Rhode Island churches and several in the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas.
The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report documents allegations from nine complainants during nearly four decades of Father Philip Magaldi’s ministry, with reported victims ranging from approximately seven years old into early adulthood.
Father Philip Magaldi’s case is among the most extensively documented clergy abuse cases arising from the Diocese of Providence
Magaldi died on August 12, 2008. Today, Magaldi is publicly identified in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report and appears on both the Diocese of Providence’s List of Credibly Accused Clergy, and the Diocese of Fort Worth’s List of Clergy With Credible Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors.
Father Philip Magaldi Assignment History
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report, Father Philip Magaldi served in the following assignments during his priesthood:
- 1961: St. Alexander Church — Warren, Rhode Island
- 1961–1965: Our Lady of Grace Church — Johnston, Rhode Island
- 1965–1968: Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church — Providence, Rhode Island
- 1968–1969: Our Lady of Grace Church — Johnston, Rhode Island
- 1968–1969: North American College — Rome, Italy
- 1969–1972: Assistant Chancellor, Providence
- 1969–1976: St. Matthew Church — Cranston, Rhode Island
- 1976–1988: St. Anthony Church — North Providence, Rhode Island
- 1988–1989: Sabbatical — San Antonio, Texas
- 1989–1990: St. Augustin Church — Newport, Rhode Island
- 1990–1992: St. Mary Church — Henrietta, Texas
- 1992–1993: Imprisoned following his embezzlement conviction
- 1993–1998: St. John the Apostle Church — North Richland Hills, Texas
- 1998: Suspended on leave
- 1999: Temporary retirement
- 2000–2001: Served at an unidentified church in Keller, Texas
- 2001: Suspended on leave
- 2005: Faculties removed
The Allegations Against Father Philip Magaldi
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report, Father Philip Magaldi is accused of sexually abusing nine boys. Most of the reported abuse allegedly occurred while he served at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Providence and St. Anthony Church in North Providence.
The Attorney General concluded that, “the allegations against Magaldi reveal a pattern of targeting at-risk youth, grooming them through lavish spending and gifts, and threatening retaliation if they reported the abuse.”
One of the most unusual recurring allegations involved enemas. Multiple complainants alleged that Magaldi required them to administer enemas to him, coerced them into using enemas, or otherwise incorporated enemas into the alleged sexual abuse. One complainant further alleged that Magaldi referred to the practice as “‘cleansing with holy water.’”
Embezzlement Conviction and Transfer to Texas
The allegations of sexual abuse were not the only public controversy involving Father Magaldi.
Magaldi “left Providence in 1988 after claims of financial mismanagement. He was accepted into the Diocese of Ft. Worth by Bishop Delaney in 1990. In 1992, he pleaded guilty to embezzlement in Rhode Island, then returned to ministry in Ft. Worth after eight months in a halfway house.” (Bishop Accountability)
According to the AG’s Report, he was transferred “to the Diocese of Fort Worth in 1993 and he was incardinated there in 1995.”
How Church Officials Responded
According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report and records later unsealed by the Diocese of Fort Worth, concerns regarding Magaldi’s conduct accumulated over many years.
Some of the key developments include:
- 1997: The Diocese of Fort Worth investigated allegations by a young man who claimed Magaldi sexually exploited him after meeting through confession. Church investigators reportedly concluded that Magaldi was guilty of sexual exploitation. However, he remained in ministry under restrictions rather than being removed from active ministry.
- 1998–1999: After receiving a second allegation from Rhode Island that resembled an earlier complaint in Texas, Bishop Joseph Delaney documented observing what he considered inappropriate physical contact between Magaldi and an altar server.
- 1999: After a second complainant threatened to file a lawsuit, Bishop Delaney removed Magaldi from ministry. Parishioners were informed only that Magaldi was retiring and that he “vehemently” denied the allegations.
- 2000–2001: Magaldi briefly returned to ministry before additional concerns led Bishop Delaney to conclude he could no longer be trusted in public ministry. In a letter, Delaney wrote that Magaldi had “‘proved he cannot be trusted in his dealings with young boys.’”
Later records also documented reports that Magaldi hand-selected altar servers, invited boys to his home, attempted to arrange outings with teenage boys, and was later accused of using internet chat rooms to look for minors while possessing pedophilic material on his computer.
Later Developments & Civil Developments
During diocesan interviews and investigations, Father Philip Magaldi repeatedly denied sexually abusing children.
Multiple civil lawsuits have been filed concerning allegations against Magaldi, including lawsuits filed in 1998, 2017, 2019, and 2020.
In February 2008, the Diocese of Fort Worth notified the Diocese of Providence that Magaldi was HIV-positive. The Diocese of Providence subsequently issued a public statement and contacted known survivors regarding his medical condition.
Magaldi sought laicization before his death on August 12, 2008.
The public record concerning Father Philip Magaldi is extensive, encompassing decades of allegations, investigations, civil litigation, diocesan records, and reporting.
Readers seeking additional information about Father Philip Magaldi may review Appendix A of the Rhode Island Attorney General’s 2026 Report on Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Providence, as well as records compiled by Bishop Accountability.
If You Were Harmed by Father Philip Magaldi
Experiencing sexual abuse by a trusted clergy member can have lasting emotional, psychological, and spiritual effects. Many survivors need years—or even decades—to process what happened before they feel ready to come forward.
Although Father Philip Magaldi is deceased, survivors may still have legal rights against the institutions that supervised him. Recent changes to Rhode Island law have created an opportunity for survivors to pursue civil claims that may have previously been barred by the statute of limitations.
At Andreozzi + Foote, we represent survivors of clergy sexual abuse across the nation. Our team takes a trauma-informed approach to every case, ensuring survivors are heard, supported, and empowered throughout the legal process.
If you were abused by Father Magaldi or another religious leader, we encourage you to contact us today to learn about your legal options.
Every consultation is free and completely confidential.
📞 (866) 311-8640
📧 info@vca.law
Image sources: Father Philip Magaldi, via Bishop Accountability & The Providence Journal
