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	Update: a Plea to Bishop Tobin to Reach out to Abused By Tom Mooney Providence Journal April 30, 2008 http://www.beloblog.com/ProJo_Blogs/newsblog/archives/2008/04/the_national_di.html 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.
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