Fr. James A. Beine

Also known as “Mar James.” Parish priest. Became an auxiliary police officer while still a priest in 1970. A 1970 news article emphasizes Beine’s work with teenage boys. Reportedly in 1979, the Archdiocese warned Catholics not to respond to newspaper ads by Beine that he was offering sacramental services or to get involved with the Community of St. John Bosco, which Beine had founded. The Archdiocese said that Beine was suspended in 8/1977; Beine said that Cardinal Carberry had given him the choice of suspension or entering a psychiatric facility. A civil suit filed in 1994 alleged the sexual abuse of two boys by Beine beginning in 1967. Seven other lawsuits were filed. Two claims settled for $110K. Beine was working as a school counselor as of 2002. He was convicted in 2003 on federal charge of possession of child pornography (later overturned). In 2003 he was convicted of exposing himself to three students. He received a twelve-year sentence which was overturned. There are at least 36 claims against Beine of abuse in MO. He was laicized in 2005. MO permanently revoked Beine’s teaching license as of 10/2007. In 8/2007 he was reportedly living in Las Vegas NV. In late 2018 Beine’s name was included on the Wheeling-Charleston list (misspelled “Biene”), where he taught high school 1979-1981. On the St. Louis archdiocese’s list 7/26/2019. Beine lived at some point in Highland IL.