Father Philip Magaldi is one of the most documented cases of clergy sexual abuse in Rhode Island’s history. Born on April 4, 1936, and ordained on December 18, 1960, Magaldi served across multiple parishes in the Diocese of Providence for decades. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, he was suspended on May 18, 2001, and died on August 12, 2008. His name appears in the Attorney General’s report on credibly accused clergy, and his assignment history spans parishes in Providence, North Providence, Newport, Cranston, and Warren, among others. If you were abused by Father Magaldi or another member of the Diocese of Providence, you are not alone, and what happened was not your fault.

Table of Contents

• Who Was Father Philip Magaldi and Where Did He Serve?
• What Abuse Allegations Were Made Against Father Philip Magaldi?
• How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Complaints About Father Magaldi
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Survivors
• Your Legal Rights as a Survivor of Father Magaldi’s Abuse
• How Sommers Schwartz Helps Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Survivors
• FAQs About Father Philip Magaldi and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Who Was Father Philip Magaldi and Where Did He Serve?

Father Philip Magaldi served as a Roman Catholic priest within the Diocese of Providence for several decades. Since being ordained, he moved from parish to parish across Rhode Island, including assignments in Warren, Johnston, Providence, Cranston, North Providence, and Newport. His assignment history, as documented by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, also included a period at Sacred Heart Church in Pawtucket in 1941, followed by time at Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Warwick from 1941 to 1957. He later served at St. Jude Church in Lincoln, St. Michael Church in Providence, St. Agnes Church in Providence, and St. Edward Church in Pawtucket from 1968 through 1980.

Philip Edwardo, a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit, was an altar boy at St. Anthony Church in North Providence, where Magaldi served as a priest. This is one of the parishes most closely tied to the abuse allegations against Magaldi. The pattern of moving priests between assignments, which is well documented in the Attorney General’s broader report on the Diocese of Providence, made it possible for abuse to continue across multiple communities without detection.

Magaldi was removed from the ministry in 1992 and died in 2008. At the time of his death, the bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth and Bishop Tobin were appealing to the Vatican to have Magaldi dismissed from the priesthood. His removal from ministry came years after the alleged abuse of children in Rhode Island had already taken place, raising serious questions about how long warning signs were ignored.

What Abuse Allegations Were Made Against Father Philip Magaldi?

A former altar boy alleged that Father Philip Magaldi inappropriately touched, molested, or abused him between 100 and 300 times, with the abuse spanning the late 1970s to the early 1980s, when the survivor was between 12 and 17 years old. These allegations are deeply disturbing, and they reflect a pattern of behavior that robbed a child of safety in a place that should have been a source of trust and community.

Magaldi lavished attention on the survivor, and overnight stays in the rectory followed. The priest also brought the altar boy to New York City, where they dined at fine restaurants and stayed at a luxury hotel. This type of behavior, often referred to as grooming, is a deliberate process abusers use to gain a child’s trust and isolate them from protective adults. It is a recognized pattern in childhood sexual abuse cases.

Throughout this period, Magaldi plied the survivor with alcohol and then threatened to tell his father about it. When the survivor finally made Magaldi stop, Magaldi falsely told his father that his son had been stealing from the church. This kind of manipulation, using threats and false accusations to silence a child, is a common tactic abusers use to maintain control. If any of this sounds familiar to you, please know that the manipulation you experienced was not your fault.

Magaldi was charged in 1985 with lying in a sworn statement submitted on behalf of Claus von Bulow, though those charges were later dismissed because of what prosecutors described as problems with the evidence. He then pleaded guilty in 1992 to embezzling St. Anthony Church funds and was sentenced to two years to serve. His criminal history outside of the abuse allegations further illustrates a pattern of dishonesty and misconduct that the Diocese of Providence failed to adequately address.

How the Diocese of Providence Responded to Complaints About Father Magaldi

A civil lawsuit filed in Providence Superior Court laid out the argument that the Diocese had a system to cover up and shield clergy who abused children. This legal theory, that institutional leaders bear responsibility for enabling abuse, sits at the heart of how survivors can now pursue accountability under Rhode Island law. The Diocese’s response to complaints about Magaldi reflects a broader institutional failure that the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report documented in detail.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office determined that 72 clergy were credibly accused of child sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Providence, based on the totality of information in the Office’s possession. Father Philip Magaldi is among those listed. The Attorney General’s report, released in March 2026, identified patterns in which accused clergy were reassigned rather than removed, and allegations were not consistently reported to law enforcement.

Magaldi left Providence in 1988 after claims of financial mismanagement, was accepted into the Fort Worth diocese by Bishop Delaney in 1990, and pleaded guilty in 1992 to embezzlement in Rhode Island, yet returned to ministry in Fort Worth after eight months. The fact that a priest with this record was allowed to return to active ministry is a direct example of the institutional failures that allowed abuse to continue. Survivors who experienced abuse during these years deserve to be heard.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report on the Diocese of Providence described a “well-worn pattern” of protecting accused clergy over the children they harmed. The report identified approximately 75 clergy members with credible allegations involving more than 300 minor children and described patterns in which accused clergy were reassigned and allegations were inconsistently reported to authorities. Father Magaldi’s case is a documented example of exactly this kind of institutional failure.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law and What It Means for Survivors

Rhode Island’s new law amends the statute of limitations for claims of sexual abuse of a child and creates a two-year window for victims to bring otherwise time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. This is a significant development for survivors who previously believed their legal options had expired.

On June 11, 2026, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee signed legislation giving survivors of childhood sexual abuse a new opportunity to pursue civil claims that would otherwise be permanently closed. The law opens a two-year revival window beginning July 1, 2026, and closing June 30, 2028. Known as H-7200A/S-2616A, this law was shaped in large part by the findings in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report on clergy abuse in the Diocese of Providence.

In 2023, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that the 2019 law only applied to suits against individual perpetrators, not the institutions or supervisors who enabled them. The new 2026 law directly addresses that gap. It specifically targets institutions and supervisors, meaning that even though Father Magaldi is deceased, survivors may now have a path to hold the Diocese of Providence accountable for its role in enabling or concealing his abuse.

Future claims must be filed by whichever date is later: either 35 years from the date of the abusive act, or seven years from when the survivor first discovers or reasonably connects their adult injuries to the childhood abuse. The statute of limitations begins running when the survivor turns 18. For survivors whose claims are already time-barred, the revival window running through June 30, 2028, is the critical deadline. Working with an experienced sexual abuse lawyer now gives you the best chance of protecting your rights before that window closes.

Your Legal Rights as a Survivor of Father Magaldi’s Abuse

Survivors of Father Philip Magaldi’s abuse have real legal options in 2026. Even though Magaldi died in August 2008, civil claims can still be brought against the institutions and supervisors who are alleged to have enabled or concealed his conduct. Under Rhode Island law, the Diocese of Providence, as an institution, can be named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit for its role in allowing abuse to occur and continue.

The new law specifically targets institutions and organizations such as churches, schools, youth programs, healthcare facilities, and sports leagues, as well as supervisors. This means that if the Diocese of Providence knew or should have known about Magaldi’s behavior and failed to act, survivors may be able to pursue a civil claim against the Diocese directly. You do not have to accept that the person who harmed you is gone as the end of the story.

Civil claims for childhood sexual abuse serve multiple purposes. They can provide financial compensation for the harm you suffered, including the long-term emotional, psychological, and physical effects of abuse. They also create a public record that holds institutions accountable and can help prevent future harm to other children. Survivors who speak up through the civil justice system are doing something courageous, and the law now gives them more time and more options to do it.

If you are unsure whether your claim qualifies under the new law, the right step is to speak with a qualified sexual assault lawyer who understands Rhode Island’s updated statutes. At Sommers Schwartz, our attorneys represent survivors of clergy sexual abuse across Rhode Island and are ready to listen without judgment. What happened to you was wrong, and you deserve answers about your legal options.

How Sommers Schwartz Helps Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Survivors

At Sommers Schwartz, we represent survivors of sexual abuse and assault in Rhode Island and across the country. Our attorneys understand that coming forward is one of the hardest decisions a survivor can make. We approach every case with care, confidentiality, and a genuine commitment to holding abusers and the institutions that protected them accountable.

We know that many survivors of Father Magaldi’s abuse, or the abuse of other credibly accused Diocese of Providence clergy, spent years, sometimes decades, carrying what happened to them in silence. Trauma, shame, fear, and the manipulation of abusers all play a role in delayed disclosure. Rhode Island’s new revival window law acknowledges this reality. The law recognizes that survivors should not lose their right to justice simply because time passed while they were processing what happened to them.

Our firm handles clergy sexual abuse cases with the seriousness they deserve. We work to build strong civil claims against both individual abusers and the institutions that enabled them. We can help you understand whether your claim falls within the revival window, what evidence may be available to support your case, and what the litigation process looks like from start to finish. You will never be pressured, and you will never be judged.

If you or someone you love was abused by Father Philip Magaldi or any other member of the Diocese of Providence clergy, please reach out to us today. A confidential consultation costs nothing, and it could be the first step toward reclaiming your voice. Our sexual assault attorney team is here to walk alongside you every step of the way.

FAQs About Father Philip Magaldi and Rhode Island Clergy Abuse Claims

Can I still file a lawsuit against the Diocese of Providence for abuse by Father Magaldi if he is deceased?

Yes. Father Magaldi died in August 2008, but Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law, H-7200A/S-2616A, signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, allows survivors to bring civil claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. This means the Diocese of Providence can still be named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit, even though Magaldi himself is no longer living. The revival window for previously time-barred claims runs through June 30, 2028.

What is the two-year revival window and does it apply to my case?

The two-year revival window is a provision in Rhode Island’s new child sexual abuse law that temporarily lifts the statute of limitations for claims that had previously expired. It runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. During this period, survivors who were abused as children, including those abused by Father Magaldi or other Diocese of Providence clergy, may be able to file civil lawsuits against institutions and supervisors, even if the normal deadline to sue has long passed. Whether your specific claim qualifies depends on the facts of your case, so speaking with an attorney as soon as possible is important.

What if I was abused by Father Magaldi but I am not sure I have enough evidence to file a claim?

You do not need to have all the evidence in hand before speaking with an attorney. Civil sexual abuse cases often rely on survivor testimony, diocesan records, assignment histories, and prior complaints, many of which are documented in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s report. The Attorney General’s Office gathered records from the Diocese of Providence, law enforcement, and civil proceedings to build its findings. An attorney can help you evaluate what evidence exists and what your legal options are. The most important step is making the call.

How does grooming relate to my legal claim, and does it matter that I was a child when the abuse happened?

Grooming is a deliberate process by which an abuser builds trust with a child and their family in order to gain access and silence. Courts and legislatures recognize that grooming, manipulation, and the power imbalance between a priest and a child make it extremely difficult for survivors to disclose abuse quickly. Rhode Island’s new law reflects this understanding by extending the time survivors have to file claims and creating a revival window for older cases. The fact that you were a child when the abuse occurred is central to your legal claim, not a barrier to it.

What should I do if I am ready to speak with an attorney about abuse by Father Magaldi?

Contact Sommers Schwartz for a free, confidential consultation. You can share as much or as little as you are comfortable with during that first conversation. Our attorneys will listen to you, answer your questions honestly, and explain your legal options under Rhode Island’s current law, including the revival window that is now open. There is no pressure, no judgment, and no cost to speak with us. The revival window closes June 30, 2028, so reaching out sooner rather than later gives you the most time to make an informed decision about your case.

More Resources About Clergy Abuse

• Diocese of Providence Clergy Abuse
• Father John Abruzzese
• Father Raymond Allard
• Father Argencourt
• Father Azzarone
• Father Barnes
• Father Battel
• Father Belhumeur
• Father Bordignon
• Father Dennis Brodeur
• Father Campbell
• Father Carpentier
• Father Cavanaugh
• Father Charland
• Father Corbesero
• Father Crafton
• Father D’Angelo
• Father DeAngelis
• Father Louis Demers
• Father Albert Desrosiers
• Father Paul Desrosiers
• Father Diogo
• Father Dolan
• Father Doran
• Father Dunn
• Father Dziob
• Father Edes
• Father Feeney
• Father Oscar Ferland
• Father Ferry
• Father Fitzgerald
• Father Flanagan
• Father Gagnon
• Father Gillooly
• Father Gorton
• Father Guertin
• Father Holden
• Father James Jackson
• Father Edward Kelley
• Father Lacasse
• Father LaMountain
• Father Leboeuf
• Father Paul Henry Leech
• Father Lepire
• Father Lonardo
• Father Manu
• Father Normand Marcantonio
• Father Joseph McCra
• Father McIntyre
• Father Meehan
• Father Meglio
• Father Menard
• Father Micarelli
• Father O’Connell
• Father J.F. O’Neil
• Father W. O’Neill
• Father Powers
• Father Rafferty
• Father Raiche
• Father Reynolds
• Father Rocha
• Father Sadowski
• Father Santagata
• Father Francis Santilli
• Father John Scagnelli
• Father Smyth
• Father Tanguay
• Father Tedeschi
• Father Tormey
• Father Tousignant
• Father Turillo
• Father Ventre