"Err. Nevermind."
Posted on 12/30/2004 8:10:49 AM PST by CatherineSiena
A Valley priest who founded a charismatic youth group that exploded into the nation's largest teen ministry was placed on administrative leave Wednesday while his superiors investigate an allegation of sexual impropriety that went unreported for two decades.
The allegation was the second of a sexual nature brought in the past 10 years against Monsignor Dale Fushek, founder of the Life Teen movement and longtime pastor at St. Timothy's Parish in Mesa.
Neither incident involved physical sexual contact. One involved a sexual-harassment complaint raised by a male Life Teen employee that was settled out of court for $45,000 in 1995. The most recent allegation stems from an event that reportedly took place in 1985 when the accuser, then 14, said he was sodomized by another priest while Fushek watched and performed sexual acts on himself without intervening to protect the youth. advertisement
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted was made aware of the latest allegation Tuesday, and after his deputies met with the accuser's attorney, the bishop announced he was placing Fushek on paid administrative leave. The decision means Fushek, one of the most popular priests in the diocese, is banned from all public ministry, including saying Mass, until the investigation is complete.
"This has been a very difficult but necessary decision," the bishop's top aide, Vicar General Fred Adamson, said at a hastily called news conference at the diocese's headquarters in downtown Phoenix.
"The action comes after an attorney notified the Diocese of Phoenix that his client claimed to have recovered a repressed memory involving sexual improprieties by Father Fushek in 1985," Adamson said.
Adamson stressed the decision to place Fushek on administrative leave "is not a presumption of guilt or innocence." It was made, he said, to comply with the Diocesan Policy on Sexual Misconduct, which was strengthened in the wake of the nationwide priest abuse scandal that shook the Catholic Church.
Under that policy, church officials are required to notify civil authorities about allegations of sexual misconduct involving children.
Maricopa County Attorney Rick Romley confirmed Wednesday night that his office had been notified of the allegations against Fushek.
"Obviously, we appreciate the cooperation of the church, and this matter shall be looked into by my office," Romley said.
Frank Verderame, the attorney who raised the allegations, said he and the diocese agreed to keep his client's identity confidential.
"We are doing so in the interest of helping my client heal from this horrible tragedy," he said.
Verderame, a Catholic whose children were Life Teen members, said he wept when he finally made the decision to contact the diocese on Dec. 22.
"As a Roman Catholic and a person who has known Father Fushek for nearly 20 years, I am personally upset about having to bring this case," he said. "But justice requires me to do so."
Verderame, who is also a close friend of Adamson, said he told the diocese Fushek was in a bedroom at St. Timothy's rectory in 1985 when another priest sodomized his client. That priest was never assigned to St. Timothy's Parish.
Romley said his office knew of the 1985 case but was unable to prosecute.
"We were aware of this incident and followed up, but the man who brought the allegation was undergoing counseling and did not want to pursue it at that particular time," Romley said.
Verderame said he told the diocese in three meetings since Dec. 22 that Fushek witnessed the priest sodomizing his client and did nothing to stop it.
"We also have information that Father Fushek was made aware of inappropriate conduct by others in addition to (that priest) and apparently did not report it to the authorities," he said.
A pre-sentencing report obtained by The Arizona Republic in yet another sexual-misconduct case seems to support the allegation that Fushek failed to report at least two other incidents involving inappropriate behavior.
That pre-sentencing report was prepared in the case of Marc "M.J." Gehrna, a former Life Teen employee from Chandler, who pleaded guilty in May 2002 to three counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.
In the report, a young man and a young woman each told court officials they reported inappropriate sexual activities by Gehrna to Fushek.
Verderame said he was unable to find any evidence that Fushek reported those incidents to his superiors or to civil authorities.
"We have inquired with the County Attorney's Office and do not believe that he reported this behavior to the authorities," Verderame said. "This information suggests that a culture of inappropriate behavior existed at St. Tim's."
Fushek's attorney, Michael Manning, said he welcomed the decision to put Fushek on paid leave while the allegations are investigated. But he said he is certain Fushek is innocent.
"I know from speaking with him that there is absolutely no grounds for these allegations," Manning said.
"I think it is good that legitimate complaints are brought and resolved, but the atmosphere that exists today makes good priests, innocent priests, vulnerable to these sorts of trumped-up allegations."
Fushek, longtime pastor at St. Timothy's Parish, founded the Life Teen organization in 1985 to reach out to youngsters who felt the church was irrelevant. Under his charismatic leadership, Life Teen has grown to more than 100,000 members with Masses in 850 churches across the nation each week.
Parishioners and staff members at St. Timothy's were shocked by his suspension but said they, too, were confident he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.
"The essence of Father Dale is inconsistent with the essence of what might be the complaint," said Donna Killoughey Bird, development director and general counsel of Life Teen.
The Rev. Carlos Gomez, associate pastor at St. Timothy's, said Monsignor Richard Moyer, former vicar general of the diocese, will fill in while Fushek is on administrative leave.
The allegation was the second of a sexual nature brought in the past 10 years against Monsignor Dale Fushek, founder of the Life Teen movement and longtime pastor at St. Timothy's Parish in Mesa.
Oh great.
I'm so glad that my girls group K of J allows the parents to stick around. In fact, we are welcome in all meetings and events.
ping
Firstly, anyone familiar with LIfeTeen, its masses, etc. should be well aware that it has nothing to do with true Catholic teachings, devotions, piety, etc. It is a hotbed (no pun intended) of heresy, seemingly designed to lead unsuspecting youth into hetrodoxy. And to ultimately leave the Chruch. It would also seem to have been a marvelous mechanism to give Father Effeminati close contact with teenaged boys.
Your use of the term "chickenhawk" is quite apt in this case!
Secondly, you point up a very important factor - the guilt of parishioners. Are they blind? Why would any parent - religious or not - allow their teenaged boy to hang out with an effeminate older man? That is just asking for trouble. The parents and parishioners are too blind and trusting in general........when things go wrong they are sheepish, and stupidly refuse to defend their youth, much less ride the priest out of town on a rail.
Indeed the sex scandals and well as the money scandals are caused by laity who turn the "blind eye" to the obvious.
Like the parish in NYC where the pastor was caught in bed with the organist......the organist is still employed in another parish, teaching children in a school (!), and the pastor was moved to a cushy suburban parish!!! No punishment, rather a move up!
Like another NYC parish where the pastor was caught in an FBI sting operation....he thought he was going to meet a 13 year old boy for sex.....and got caught. The Cardinal got him off the charges, and the priest is now pastor of a nice suburban parish.,.....with kids all around!
Like the Manhattan priest who was operating a "call boy" service, was caught by the police, adn let go because of the Cardinal. Like another Manhattan pastor who was living with 3 teen boys in the rectory. Like the pastor of a suburban NY parish who was never in the rectory, except Wed & Sun......because he lived in an apartment in the West Village with a man!
like the suburban NY pastor who was removed from his pastorate cause he was doign things he shouldnt have with teen aged boys, and haveing massive amounts of porn and sex toys sent to the rectory. He was reassigned to another parish - with many children around!
These are not rare exceptions, but yet you will never hear about them on the evening news. And it is the tip of the iceberg. Of that I can assure you. I do not merely refer to past events either - it is still going on today.
But of course, according to the Usccb - the crisis is over.
Right!
Sounds like a good program.
Oh,horrors -- the teens have access to information and talk about the Immaculate Conception, the Sacred Heart, the Holy Eucharist, the Mass, the Creed -- horrors, just horrors.
------/sarcasm off
Our church doesn't use this program either -- costs too much -- and parents are always invited to stay.
Honestly, I know that parents of the 60's and 70's had full trust in the Religious and Lay people running the programs of the churches. It is easy now, with all of this in the news to blame parents for letting their children end up molested. But it was a different world back then. I used to clean the Priest House all the time, it was a special perk of being an eighth grader. Boys would spend the night there with Fr. Joe! I have talked to many of my classmates and nothing happened but popcorn and a movie on the new invention, the VCR! Could anyone imagine letting their boys do that today? Could anyone imagine a Priest risking what could be said? Never!
Today if a group will not let me attend with my children, they don't go. We have a great parish and a Holy Priest. That doesn't mean my girls are out of my sight. I just feel better about it.
We use the "Kids of Jesus" program. What do you use?
From your link:
"Hi, my name is Monsignor Dale Fushek, the founder of LIFE TEEN. Teen Talk is buzzing all about sex!"
They don't have access to that same information outside of the LifeTeen movement?
a very sad and, if true, disgusting story :( The only good that might come out of it is perhaps a decline of Lifeteen and the rise of alternative youth groups that provide teens with more meaty, orthodox, spirituality.
The more a priest praises the fruits of the reform, the more likely that he is one.
Sickening
Rather odd statement since Bishop Olmstead has allowed the Tridentine Mass to be used in Phoenix.
While I do not know Monsignor Dale Fushek on a first name basis , I know of him and have attended Masses he has celebrated many times over the years. I have not been the greatest fan of Life Teen, but neither do I disagree with the concept. With the new Bishop in Phoenix, changes have been occurring concerning the Life Teen program, which should be a positive development for Life Teen across the country.
It would be wrong to categorize Monsignor Fushek as a "liberal" or "effeminate" Priest. Not the most conservative to be sure, but not heretical concerning the Faith. He is a charismatic - in both senses of the word. No doubt, the Charismatic Renewal Movement has been open to abuse for the past 30+ years, but I've noticed it has accepted Magisterial correction over these same years as well. Charismatics are open to emotionalism, and I'm not a charismatic .... etc. Clearly, Life Teen has been influenced by the Charismatic Renewal Movement. In any event, I believe this has something to do with the settled allegation that the article mentions, i.e. the Monsignor hugs a lot of people. According to people I've spoken to who were close to the situation, some shy male took it the wrong way, etc.
Until the investigation is done, none of us will know whether or not any of these allegations are true, though many on this thread have already made their decision. I do not believe they are true. My first point of contention is the "claim(ed) to have recovered a repressed memory" line. Anyone remember the '80s when this new "science" was discovered for all those hollywoodites abused by their parents? Secondly, neither this, nor the first settled allegation against the Monsignor, claim to involve him directly. Thirdly, though the County Attorney already knew about this case, he refused to do anything with it, since (reading between the lines) there was not enough evidence. Which is precisely the problem with these type of allegations 20 years after the alleged fact.
St. Timothy's parish is a popular suburbanite parish in Mesa, and the Monsignor very popular with the parishoners. The Church is more an auditorium than what most would recognize as a Church. Nonsense from the '70s. Not my favorite place, nor parish, by any stretch of the imagination. However, I presume innocence for this Priest until evidence shows otherwise. Others choose to defame him on this thread publicly without any evidence, other than this report.
We at LIFE TEEN support and pray for our Founder Msgr. Dale Fushek, in this, a challenging time. The recent allegations regarding Msgr. Dale are completely inconsistent with the man of God that he is, and whom hundreds of thousands have grown to respect and admire. We stand united with him and ask for prayers from all of those within the LIFE TEEN family for Msgr. Dale and for the individual making the allegations. Any written letters of support or well wishes for Msgr. or for LIFE TEEN can be sent directly to our LIFE TEEN Headquarters (address below), and they will be delivered.
For more information on this situation and the LIFE TEEN official response, see the documents below.
May God bless you and all those who serve to build His Kingdom here on earth,
Mark Hart
Vice-President, Evangelization and Media
LIFE TEEN, Inc.
LIFE TEEN, Inc.
2222 S. Dobson, Ste. 601
Mesa, AZ 85202
Welcome to the FR Religion Forum!
It was on the site 6 hours ago.
Why don't you ask Father J what happened to it?
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The information contained herein is provided by LIFE TEEN, Inc. The LIFE TEEN® name and associated logos are trademarks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Use of the LIFE TEEN® trademarks without prior permission is forbidden. 480.820.7001
 The ministry of lifeteen.com is supported by the Catholic Community Foundation of the Diocese of Phoenix. |
I answer that, As stated above (6), in the sinner, we are bound, out of charity, to love his nature, but to hate his sin. But the name of demon is given to designate a nature deformed by sin, wherefore demons should not be loved out of charity. Without however laying stress on the word, the question as to whether the spirits called demons ought to be loved out of charity, must be answered in accordance with the statement made above (A2,3), that a thing may be loved out of charity in two ways. First, a thing may be loved as the person who is the object of friendship, and thus we cannot have the friendship of charity towards the demons. For it is an essential part of friendship that one should be a well-wisher towards one's friend; and it is impossible for us, out of charity, to desire the good of everlasting life, to which charity is referred, for those spirits whom God has condemned eternally, since this would be in opposition to our charity towards God whereby we approve of His justice.Secondly, we love a thing as being that which we desire to be enduring as another's good. On this way we love irrational creatures out of charity, in as much as we wish them to endure, to give glory to God and be useful to man, as stated above (3): and in this way too we can love the nature of the demons even out of charity, in as much as we desire those spirits to endure, as to their natural gifts, unto God's glory. (Summa theologiae II-II q. 25 a. 11)
So he remembers that Fr. Fushek watched this guy get abused. What about the actual abuser? No mention of him whatsoever. Odd that.
Father Fushek's Life Teen Masses are an abomination, as are his regular masses. I think a lot of it is his grandstanding and 'hail fellow well met' persona. Huge amounts of liturgical license in the Masses. Bishop Olmsted has required many changes including no longer permitting the teens to go up round the altar.
His parish church is auditorium style which,of course,means no kneelers and one would fall flat on their face if they tried to kneel.
My experience with Father occurred when he came out to lend credibility to a pastor of another Phoenix parish when he removed the beautiful marble altar rail. Father,who is very smart as well as personable,outright lied and said that the documents of Vatican II required that altar rails be removed. We had all of the documents from Vatican II showing the contrary but he just bulldozed right through us. Since he out and out lied,I have not trusted him since. Disordered persons usually manifest their disorders in other activities and characteristics.
His $45,000. pay-off was to prevent a court case and considered a time saver according to the xbishop. He was 'wrestling' with the young man and was misinterpreted. He also claimed he wasn't aware how to express intimacy and was getting counseled. I know he is smarter than this.
His parish does seem to think he's the cat's pajamas,and BTW,he is not the least bit effeminate looking.
Thank you both for your on-the-ground descriptions of Fr. Fushek and the situation. While I have never liked the Life Teen program - although it varies from diocese to diocese, I gather - I certainly don't want this to be true about the man. The "repressed memories" thing definitely sounds a little suspicious, but at the same time, the earlier payoff doesn't look particularly good for Fr. Fushek, either.
Thanks, Robert. That's much better!
"Tumble" would be a better description. It would make a good skit for the religious version of SNL.
Father Fushek's Life Teen Masses are an abomination, as are his regular masses.
The problem is, the uncatechized parishoners (many of them young), like, you know, just really, REALLY love these Masses. Why, they actually have electronic drums, never mind guitars....
My experience with Father occurred when he came out to lend credibility to a pastor of another Phoenix parish when he removed the beautiful marble altar rail.
Forgot about this one. All the more shame considering what that parish is being used for now. IIRC, the pastor at the time was the same Priest that Msgr. Fushek went to Medjugorje with to film a documentary in the mid-80's. Of course, after that, the pastor then started having "locutions" of Mary when giving homilies.
No, the Monsignor is not my favorite Priest in any book. The closest person I could think to compare him with is that "playboy" Priest from way back when, Fr. Ken Roberts or some such. Poor formation, stuck in the 70's, heavily influenced by the overt emotionalism of the charismatic movement, and all that, but not a CTA type either. For example, his response to the new Bishop has been one of obedience, lacking any hints of whining or claims of persecution.
But I think that "repressed memories" in the psychological arena is every bit as hokie as the liturgical abuses that Msgr. Fushek has been instrumental in pushing. Because of that, I'm not willing to assume he is guilty of the charges.
On the whole, the Diocese of PHX has a new sheriff in town with a young crop of deputies picked from a fresh barrel of apples. It will take time, but the forecast looks clear. There are many Dioceses in far worst straights which have liturgically (and sexually) abusive mentalities which (have always made) make the conditions in Phoenix child's play in comparison.
He also claimed he wasn't aware how to express intimacy and was getting counseled. I know he is smarter than this.
Sounds like an ex president we had.
His parish does seem to think he's the cat's pajamas,and BTW,he is not the least bit effeminate looking.
As a patient of mine described to me this week, who goes to that parish, she termed it "rowdy."
(and that was right before the news of Fusek came out)
Wasn't this the same parish who got busted for the "Polka mass" some time ago? (under the former bishop...at least he had some minute sense of boundaries...)
I hope for the sake of the parishoners there, this is a fabrication. Sad either way, since this isn't the first name Fusek's name has come up in a case of this nature.
If the attorney gen.'s office knew about it then, but couldn't procesute because the subject didn't want to pursue the issue (thus, lack of evidence), we'll see what comes up.
Aside from very serious issues of orthodoxy, there is one overriding issue which totally wipes out any possible good that LifeTeen or any similar program could potentially do: it is conforming the church to the world. It uses worldly music and ideas of "coolness" as the banana with which to catch the prey.
Lots of young folks are attracted by bright, flashy, noisy things - our cuture has conditioned them for this. But these are not of God. God is silent love. The key is not how many teens are attracted to a Catholic youth activity - but the spiritual benefit which they derive.
Flashy superficiality doth not make saints - not does it inspire the average soul to a life of compunction for sin, and the desire to do what God commands of them.
Are kids seeking "coolness"? No - nor should they. God is not found in compromise with the world. Rather he is found in silence.
The noise of rock and rap music is designed to drown out the small still voice of God which tries to speak to the heart of all. Teens are bomnarded with such things constantly, and the peer pressure to give in to it. God is not cool in MTV culture - and you simply cannot make him cool. More to the point, such music in church, is not permitted, and is disrespectful and blasphemous. This is not a good thing to expose young teens to, nor to accustom them to it as an acceptable or desired norm for a mass.
It would be of far greater benefit to expose teens to simple traditional devotionsal concepts - like an hour of total silence alone before the Blessed Sacrament - where they can talk to God, and God can talk to them in silence. If there is to be a mass, simple, respectful, traditional, and unamplified music should be used........either that or no music at all. The concept of silence is imperative, as it basicly does not exist in their world....homes.....schools.
Chaste and simple group activities wherin one does the corporal works of mercy, like visiting the elderly in a nursing home on a regular basis does good for the soul.
But more then anything else, teens need to experience silence. For only in silence does God communicate to the soul, teach it, and perfect it.
This is the thread you need to be on.
You obviously don't do much with adolescents.
Your suggestion above is well-meaning, but completely out of touch with what is possible with teenagers.
You might get them to do this once; they'd never show up again.
Get Lost
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
What you do not know is that I have many years of working with teenagers. But even if I didn't, what I said is still very much the state of spiritual reality for most teens. What I said would be good for them is all too true.
I have seen inner city youth respond very well indeed to to serious adult type stuff. While some of them will surely slip up, they all will respond to being treated as adults, and being given adult responsibilities/concepts, and things to do.
If they are treated as children - they will act as children.
I have seen teen aged boys and girls acting as acolytes for high church extremely high Anglican services lasting some 2.5 hours. These were kids from the ghetto. Their conduct on a regular basis was flawless.....perfect deportment, order, and discipline. A genuine zeal for a job well done. No talking or fidgeting either during the service. Theirs was a genuine pride in what they were doing and attention to detail. Afterwards, the had the release of relaxing downstairs at a church party.
Now.....ahem......you are saying that your lilly white kids cant sit still for a holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament? With alternating silent prayer and the recitation of the rosary?
Part of this is in intelligent adult leadership. Such leadership is wise enough to know that the best way to control teens is for them to control themselves - by leading themselves.
It's not, and I don't believe you've worked with teenagers lately.
But, I'm not going to argue with you about it. Very few adults are disciplined enough to sit for an hour in silent prayer.
"It's not, and I don't believe you've worked with teenagers lately."
In reality, I have many years of experience working with youth.........poor ones, in the inner city, so I know whereof I speak.
As regards Catholic spirituality - I would suggest that you acquire some. Because it is obvious that you do not understand what it is, involves, nor the needs of either adults or youth.
You could not possibly say and speak as you do if you actually had an ounce of legitimate spirituality, seminary training, or had completed any serious spiritual direction/exercises......which were genuinely Catholic.
Christ said to his Apostles: "will you not wait with me one hour"? So too, he says that to us all.
Anyone who cannot maintain silence before God in the Blessed Sacrament for one hour, is in serious spiritual trouble. This is the fault of the modernist apostate clergy and deacons - who keep the churchs closed, and hide the tabernacle.
If all teens were exposed to the simple concept of a quick, private visit to the church - even for 5 minutes.....for silent prayer, a devotion, to light a candle........or even just to bask in the silence before the Presence.....it would do them a world of good.
Then perhaps those who could and would, would build up their visits to an hour, when they could have the time for it.
But first they must be taught of the value of the five minute visit by their parents, and by the parish priest.
That will not happen, as the parents - for the most part - lost their faith, and only have the barest of "cultural Catholocism". And the priests?????? They are too busy vacationing in the flesh pots of the world to be bothered.
And all too many of them would not know anything of value to say to a teen........and probably should not be allowed anywhere near them!
Exactly. Well said.
When you're called on something outrageous, then you come back to earth and to reality.
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