Fr. Owen John Melody

Order: ST
Ordained: 1962
Status: Convicted

Died: 03/3/2019
Diocese: Archdiocese for the Military Services, Washington DC

Also known as Roland Melody. Confessed in 1987 to abusing a girl for three years, while an active duty Navy chaplain. Sentenced to a 20-year suspended sentence, 10 years probation and 5 years of therapy. Privileges suspended in  1988. Per a 10/2003 news article, Melody had been dismissed from the Navy and the priesthood, still claiming innocence. He married a female Navy chaplain. On the Richmond diocese’s list 2/13/2019. Melody died in 3/2019.


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