By Rob McAllister
KFBK
January 31, 2008

http://www.kfbk.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=172730&article=3218667

[Transcription of the audio by BishopAccountability.org. See also our assignment record of Cornelius F. O'Connor.]

A man now 28 years old says he was molested by a Catholic priest at a Carmichael church more than 20 years ago. KFBK's Rob McAllister spoke with the family.

It is difficult for Joey Melrose even to talk about it today. “I was just a little kid; I was just a little kid.” Joey says he was only seven years old when Fr. Cornelius O'Connor began touching him, after he was caught taking pieces of host. Fr. O’Connor told Joey, “Good little boys don’t steal,” and so it began.

Meanwhile, some twenty years later, Joey’s mom, Connie, had no idea what went on, until last month, when she received a text message from Joey. “It read, ‘Mom, I need help.’ I got to him immediately. He was quite intoxicated. And I was heading to Kaiser’s to get him proper help, to get him detoxxed. And that’s when he told me that he had been molested ongoing at Our Lady of the Assumption.

Joey and Connie claim four weeks ago church officials admitted to similar molestation accusations involving Fr. O’Connor. Since the meeting, though, they have heard nothing. They hope taking Joey’s story public will help others in similar situations. “I have to be that person that comes out, because everyone else is scared. That’s my lot in life, and it’s fine.

Officials from the Sacramento Diocese say the Melrose's have rejected help from the church - And add since Father O' Conn[o]r passed away 18 years ago - the only information they can get regarding the accusations is from Joey himself. The Melrose family has not filed a lawsuit against the church.