Free Republic

Phoenix, Ariz., Apr 2, 2011 / 07:32 am (CNA).- A onetime supporter of the excommunicated and laicized priest Dale Fushek says that his former pastor's new memoir doesn't tell the real story of the man he knew – who began as a “faithful” and “holy” priest, but was led astray by a sense of self-importance. Fushek has accused Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix of wishing for his death and forcing him out of the Church because of a personal grudge. In his new memoir “The Unexpected Life,” he defends his decision to found a non-Catholic “worship center,” which caused...

Two Valley Catholic priests, Monsignor Dale Fushek and the Rev. Mark Dippre, have been excommunicated by Bishop Thomas Olmsted for defying his order to not engage in public ministry, an activity that was deemed out of accord with the Roman Catholic Church. Just over a year ago, the priests, who had once served together at St. Timothy’s Catholic Community church in Mesa, founded the nondenominational Praise and Worship Center, which meets Sundays at the Fiesta Fountains Reception Center, 1316 S. Longmore, Mesa. Fushek was put on paid leave of absence in late 2005 after he was indicted on 10 misdemeanors...

LifeTeen founder arrested Phoenix, Nov. 21 (CWNews.com) - Msgr. Dale Fushek, the fouder of the popular LifeTeen youth program, was arrested today in Mesa, the Arizona Republic has reported. He will face several charges of assault, indecent exposure, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Msgr. Fushek, who was the vicar general of the Phoenix diocese under Bishop Thomas O'Brien, was replaced in that role in 2003, after Bishop O'Brien resigned and was replaced by Bishop Thomas Olmstead. Fushek was suspended from active ministry in December of last year after he was accused of involvement in the sexual abuse...

Three key officials of the Diocese of Phoenix, all confidants of Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien, will be replaced July 1, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted announced Tuesday. The departure of Monsignors Dale Fushek and Richard Moyer, and chancellor Sister Mary Ann Winters marks an almost complete change of administration from O'Brien's time as bishop. . . . O'Brien resigned in June after his arrest in connection with a hit-and-run accident. "I wanted to choose priests who are well known for their pastoral zeal, their prudential judgment, their sound doctrine, their ability to work collaboratively with a variety of persons, and their...

Valley's top monsignor avoided sexual-harassment suit Richard Nilsen/The Arizona Republic Monsignor Dale Fushek says that he did nothing wrong and that the payment was done simply to avoid the greater costs of fighting a lawsuit. By Nena Baker, Kelly Ettenborough and Joseph A. ReavesThe Arizona RepublicMay 31, 2002 12:00:00 The Diocese of Phoenix quietly paid $45,000 to settle a sexual-harassment claim in 1995 against one of its most prominent priests, who has since been promoted to second-in-command in the diocese to Bishop Thomas O'Brien. Monsignor Dale Fushek, pastor of St. Timothy Catholic Community in Mesa and the founder of Life...