Msgr. Cornelius F. O'Connor—Assignment
Record
Summary of Case: Accused in 2008 of sexually abusing a boy
at Our Lady of the Assumption in Carmichael CA, beginning in 1987 when the victim
was 8 years old. Parents say diocese admitted there were other victims.
Ordained: 1946
Incardinated: Sacramento diocese 1946-89
Died: 7/14/89
Start | Stop | Parish | Town | State | Position | Notes |
1946 Bishop Robert J. Armstrong (1929-57) |
1947 | St. John the Baptist | Chico | CA | 2/2. Pastor was Rev. Patrick J. Cronin. | In Sacramento diocese. School had 96 boys and 100 girls. |
1946 | 1947 | Station of St. John the Baptist | Magalia | CA | In Sacramento diocese. | |
1946 | 1947 | Station of St. John the Baptist | Paradise | CA | In Sacramento diocese. | |
1946 | 1947 | Station of St. John the Baptist | Sterling City | CA | In Sacramento diocese. | |
1947 | 1950 | St. Bernard’s | Eureka | CA | 3/4. Priests were Msgr. Cornelius H. Murphy, and Revs. James
J. Corcoran, Cornelius O’Connor, and John Farrell. In 1949 John C.
O’Reilly arrived. Murphy was a dean, consultor, treasurer of the Priests’ Aid Society, and diocesan moderator of theological conferences. |
Then in Sacramento diocese; now in Santa Rosa diocese. School had 221 boys and 209 girls. |
1947 | 1950 | St. Joseph’s | Eureka | CA | Then in Sacramento diocese; now in Santa Rosa diocese. Mission of St. Bernard's. | |
1950 Bishop Joseph T. McGucken (1957-62)
|
1961 | Holy Cross | Tulelake | CA | 1/1. | In Sacramento diocese. No school. |
1950 | 1961 | Our Lady of Good Counsel | Dorris | CA | In Sacramento diocese. | |
1950 | 1957 | Station of Holy Cross | Tennant | CA | In Sacramento diocese. | |
1961 Bishop Alden J. Bell (1962-79) |
1968 | St. Patrick’s | Placerville | CA | 2/2. Priests were Revs. Joseph Hanrahan and Cornelius F.
O’Connor, administrator, with Sigmund F. Lica and Edward F. Boyle
C.SS.R. for a year each. Then in 1965, O'Connor was made pastor with James
McKnight as associate. |
In Sacramento diocese. |
1961 | 1968 | St. James | Georgetown | CA | In Sacramento diocese. | |
1968 | 1972 | St. Joseph's | Marysville | CA | 1/3. Priests were Very Rev. Cornelius F. O’Connor,
Dean; and Revs. Anthony Traynor and Oliver J. Deegan. Others who worked
here under O'Connor were Revs. John M. O’Connor, Brendan Lawlor, John
G. Cuffe, Patrick McGrath, and Michael G. Walsh. |
In Sacramento diocese. The junior priest here also worked as chaplain of the Newman Club at Yuba College. |
1968 | 1972 | Sacred Heart | Dobbins | CA | In Sacramento diocese. Mission of St. Joseph's in Marysville. | |
1968 | 1972 | Marysville Deanery | Marysville | CA | Dean. | In Sacramento diocese. |
1972 | 1989 | Our Lady of the Assumption | Carmichael • Accused in 2008 of sexually abusing a boy here, beginning in 1987 when the victim was 8 years old. Parents say diocese admitted there were other victims. See article. |
CA | 1/3. Priests were Revs. Cornelius F. O'Connor, Michael J. O’Connor, Thomas P. O’Sullivan. Others who worked under O'Connor here were: Robert P. Walton (a deacon), John K. Hannan, Simon D. Twomey, William Feeser (a deacon, then a priest), Jonathon Mbah C.S.Sp. (Nigeria), Daniel Carroll S.D.S., Joseph McCarthy (Ireland), John Molumby, and Eduino Silveira. | In Sacramento diocese. School had 130 boys and 139 girls in 1972-73. School had 281 students in 1988-89. |
1972 | 1986 | Building Commission | Sacramento | CA | Member. | |
1972 | 1973 | Priests' Senate | Sacramento | CA | Member. | |
1973 | 1980 | Aid Society for Priests | Sacramento | CA | Member. | |
1978 | 1980 | Personnel Board | Sacramento | CA | Member. | |
1979 Bishop Bell retired 7/11/79. Bishop Francis A. Quinn 1979-93. |
Made monsignor | Carmichael | CA | |||
7/14/89 | Died |
Carmichael | CA |
Source: Official Catholic Directory (New York: Kenedy & Sons, 1947-90); Carmichael Man Claims He Was Molested by Priest, by Rob McAllister, KFBK, January 31, 2008.
Cornelius F. O'Connor should not be confused with Cornelius S. O'Connor. The
latter was a Sacramento priest 1928-91.
Priests in a Parish: We use the following
convention to show a priest's place among the clergy of a parish: 1/2 means
that he is the first priest listed in the Official Catholic Directory (usually
the pastor) and that there is a total of two priests at the parish. The shorthand
3/4 means that the priest is listed third on a four-priest roster. See our sample
page from the Directory.
Note: The Official Catholic Directory aims to report
the whereabouts of Catholic priests in the United States on January 1 of the
Directory's publication year. Our working assumption is that a priest
listed in the Directory for a given year was at the same assignment
for part of the previous year as well. However, Kenedy and Sons will sometimes
accept updates well into the year of publication. Diocesan clergy records are
rarely available to correct this information. The Directory is also
sometimes misleading or wrong. We have tried to create an accurate assignment
record, given the source materials and their limitations. Assignment records
are a work in progress and we are always improving the records that we post.
Please email us
with new information and corrections.
This assignment record collates O'Connor's career history as it is represented
in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations reported in the
media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report.
We remind our readers that in the U.S. judicial system, a person is considered
innocent until proven guilty.
A Note on Nomenclature: We use the term "assignment record,"
instead of the more common "service record," because "service"
is not an appropriate word for the activities of an abusive priest. Dioceses
are often less than forthcoming about the activities of retired priests, but
when we can determine those activities, we list them in these assignment records,
particularly if they involve ministry. Retired priests remain under obedience
to their bishop, and even the activities of laicized priests should be a concern
to the diocese.
This assignment record was last updated on 2/1/08.