St. Louis to Probe Ex-Priest's Career in Schools

By Catherine Gewertz

Leaders of the St. Louis school district are trying to piece together how a former Roman Catholic priest was allowed to work in counseling jobs with public school children for seven years after officials learned that he had been accused of sexual molestation.

A widening circle of accusations has centered on James A. Beine, who resigned from his counseling job at Patrick Henry Elementary School on March 21. One week later, he was arrested on state charges for allegedly exposing himself to two brothers in the school's restroom during the 2000-01 school year. On April 5, federal prosecutors filed a separate count against him of possessing child pornography.

The St. Louis school board voted 5-2 on April 2 to launch an internal investigation into the district's actions in hiring and assigning Mr. Beine, who was removed from the priesthood in 1977 amid...