Archbishop Raymond L. Burke has announced that he was notified this week by the Holy See that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith granted his request that James Beine, a former priest of the archdiocse who had been accused of sexual abuse with a minor, be returned to the lay state.

Dismissal from the clerical state, which is given with the approval of the pope, means that a priest has been definitively returned to the status of a layman, is dispensed from all obligations that he assumed by way of sacred orders and that the archdiocese no longer has responsibility for his support.

Archbishop Burke expresses his "deepest regrets to all who have been harmed by James Beine and to anyone who has been abused by a member of the clergy." The archbishop said he deplores the grave evil of sexual abuse of a minor and reiterates his and the archdiocese’s concern for the welfare of all children.

Last week the archbishop sent a letter to parishes where Beine served, offering apologies to victims and encouraging anyone who has been a victim to contact the archdiocese or law-enforcement authorities.

Beine’s priestly faculties were removed in 1977 because of allegations of sexual abuse of minors. He has been in prison on charges related to his conduct while a public school counselor but is due to be released.

Archbishop sends parishes letter about former priest

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke has sent the following letter to the pastors of St. Andrew Parish in Lemay, St. Francis De Sales Parish in St. Louis and St. Peter Parish in St. Charles to be read at this weekend’s Masses. Those are parishes where former archdiocesan priest James Beine served.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

With great sadness, I write to you today concerning James Beine, a former priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, who served in your parish during his brief tenure as an active priest.In 1977, Cardinal John J. Carberry removed his priestly faculties because of allegations of sexual abuse of minors.

As many of you may already know, recently the Supreme Court of the state of Missouri has ruled that a Missouri statute punishing persons guilty of certain acts of child sexual abuse is unconstitutional.As a result of the ruling in question, it is anticipated that James Beine will soon be released from prison.

The Archdiocese of St. Louis is committed to helping persons who are victims of child sexual abuse by members of the clergy.I offer my heartfelt apologies to any victim of James Beine, and I encourage anyone who has been a victim of James Beine, or of any other member of the clergy, to contact the archdiocese or the law enforcement authorities.

Asking God's blessing upon you and your homes, I am

Yours devotedly in Christ,

(Most Rev.) Raymond L. Burke

Archbishop of St. Louis