When Mc Elroy was in S F and the  local and national media was covering Cordileones behaviour with Star of the Sea....treatment of girls etc...the local Church clergy met and addressed some of their concerns:

"During the Feb. 12 priests' council gathering, several priests voiced concern about the altar girl issue. They noted anger, frustration and confusion surfacing in their own parishes.

According to minutes provided to NCR by a priest who asked not to be named, two appeals were made during the meeting for public statements countering Illo's ban.

According to the minutes, Auxiliary Bishop Robert McElroy called exclusion of altar girls "invidious discrimination" and suggested Cordileone issue a directive of disagreement with Illo's prohibition.
The minutes said that McElroy "mentioned the Pope recently spoke on this very theme and said 'to live by exclusion is a corrupting method of living.' "

The Vatican announced McElroy's appointment as bishop of San Diego."NCR