Diocese updates priest investigations

FORT WORTH - The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, reeling after a judge last year released about 700 pages of previously secret files relating to six priests accused of abusing minors, said Wednesday it had contacted the appropriate police departments in all of the cases and was still reviewing the allegations.

The documents detailed allegations against six clergymen: the late John Hanlon, William Hoover and James Reilly; and John Howlett, Philip Magaldi and Rudolph Renteria. Files for a seventh priest, the Rev. Joseph Tu NgocNguyen, a Dominican order priest, had been sealed because he appealed their release.

Magaldi, who is retired from the ministry, and Tu, who stepped down, have maintained their innocence. Renteria was removed from priestly duties in 2002. A telephone number listed as Renteria's was busy Wednesday night. Howlett lives in Ireland under the supervision of his religious order, according to court documents.

The documents had been sealed as part of a sexual abuse lawsuit settled in 2005 and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Dallas Morning News and some of the accusers asked a judge to release the files.

In the release by the Rev. Michael Olson, Bishop Kevin Vann's top aide, the diocese also advised anyone who has suffered sexual abuse from a member of the clergy to contact the church.

"Our efforts at a renewal of trust among members of the church in the response by church authorities towards the handling and reporting of sexual misconduct with minors are part of an ongoing and at times painful process," Olson wrote.