Sex Crimes: Pedophile Priest HIV+

Fr. Philip Magaldi's photo from BishopAccountability.org

Well, it was just a matter of time. As more and more "religious" leaders are outed for the skanky hypocrites they are we find that religious orders often are chosen by perverts for the protection they afford. And will continue to afford as long as religious leaders like the pope refuse any sort of accountability for these misdeeds.

AllHeadlineNews (AHN) is reporting that Father Philip Magaldi, a former Catholic priest, has revealed that he tested positive for HIV. According to the report, Magaldi's doctor says the priest does not have full-blown AIDS, but our understanding is that infection with HIV is the prelude to developing AIDS, even though not all those infected end up with AIDS.

Magaldi served as a priest in Rhode Island and Fort Worth. If you or anyone you know has come in contact with this guy, check on the degree of contact. He's been accused of molesting at least five minors in Rhode Island. Apparently, he's also been accused of pedophilic misdeeds in Forth Worth, but the article does not provide details.

We hope that Father Magaldi was not in the habit of exchanging blood with his victims, given the recent report of the death of a nurse seven years after she pricked herself while taking blood from an HIV+ patient.

This is, we feel, one of the worst things about organized religion: that it promotes some people above others in matters of spirituality. If there is a deity (and we don't believe there is, but you're welcome to), why would that deity only speak to some of its creations, and not others? How are religious leaders qualified to lead? No one examines their bona fides stringently, no one calls them to account, yet they exercise tremendous power over gullible people and, worst of all, gullible and helpless children.

If adults wish to place their trust and their trust funds in the hands of some yob or the other, they're adults and should be free to do as they please. We don't believe the state should interfere with the church any more than the church should interfere with the state.

But no child should be placed in the power of any religious leader. Until they reach the age of adulthood, they should be protected from such people, not because we believe all such people are bad, but simply because children are exceptionally vulnerable creatures and deserve special protection.

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