August 26, 2005

Archdiocese is named in 2 sex abuse suits

ST. LOUIS (MO)
Post-Dispatch

A Florida man filed a civil lawsuit in St. Louis circuit court against former St. Louis priest James Beine on Thursday. The man, 53, who filed his lawsuit as "John Doe," said he was abused by Beine at St. Monica in Creve Coeur when he was in the sixth and seventh grades. The lawsuit also named the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis and Archbishop Raymond Burke.

The Missouri Supreme Court ordered Beine released from prison in June after overturning an indecent exposure conviction. The archdiocese recently said it has settled nine civil lawsuits for more than $400,000 alleging sexual improprieties or abuse by Beine.

A 56-year-old California woman also filed a lawsuit in St. Louis circuit court Thursday against the archdiocese and Burke. Peggy Nicholson said she had been abused at Holy Guardian Angels Church by the Rev. William Poepperling for four years beginning when she was 4 years old, according to the lawsuit.

Posted by kshaw at August 26, 2005 08:00 AM