Roman Catholic church officials in Texas claim a priest accused of sexually abusing children is HIV positive.

The Fort Worth diocese said the Rev Philip Magaldi recently told another priest that he has the disease that causes AIDS. Church officials believe the priest has been HIV positive since 2003.

The diocese says it has started alerting people who claim Father Magaldi assaulted them. Father Magaldi was removed as a priest in 1999 after sexual misconduct allegations arose in Rhode Island and Fort Worth.