Rev. James W. Beck

Summary of Case: Beck's name was on a list released in 2004 by the Milwaukee archdiocese of 43 priests with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse of minors against them. He "left priestly ministry" sometime before 2004.

Ordained: 1969

   

Start Stop Parish Town/Accusations State Position Notes

1969

Milwaukee archbishop was William Edward Cousins (1958-1977)

 1977 Holy Name Sheboygan WI 2/3 Parish had a school with 305 students.

1977

Cousins was succeeded by Rembert George Weakland, O.S.B. (1977-2002)

 1978 St. Robert's Milwaukee WI 2/4 Parish had a school with 433 students.
1978 1984 St. James Mequon WI 3/3, 2/2 Parish had a school with 228-178 students.
1984 1988 St. Catherine's Milwaukee WI 1/3 Parish had a school with 251-212 students.
1988 1989 Absent on Sick Leave        
1989 1990 St. Barbara's Milwaukee WI

2/2

In residence.

 
1989 1990 Metropolitan Tribunal Milwaukee WI Procurator Advocate  
1990 1991 Absent on Sick Leave        
1991 1993 Special Assignment: Metropolitan Tribunal Milwaukee WI Procurator Advocate  
1993 1995 On Leave      

Beck is not indexed beyond the 1995 Directory.

Per news reports Beck "left priestly ministry" sometime before 2004. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel [Wisconsin]
July 10, 2004)

 

Source: Official Catholic Directory (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1970-1995)

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 Beck's career history as it is represented in the Official Catholic Directory with allegations as reported in the media. We make no representation regarding the truth of the allegation we report, and we remind our readers that the U.S. legal system presumes that a person accused of or charged with a crime is innocent until proven guilty. Similarly, individuals who may be defendants in civil actions are presumed not to be liable for such claims unless a plaintiff proves otherwise. Admissions of guilt or liability are not typically a part of civil or private settlements. For more information, see our posting policy.

This assignment record was last updated on Feb. 14, 2011