I think this is a fairly big deal.
Dale Fushek, formerly Monsignor, was the founder of LifeTeen, and a very popular priest of the Diocese of Phoenix, serving as Vicar General.
The outline of his troubles with the law can be found at his Wikipedia entry, but the basics include a settlement of a sexual harrasment allegation back in the 90’s, and then, after investigations, indictments in 2005 on 10 misdemeanor counts related to sexual misconduct with teens and young adults. Three of those counts have been dismissed, and Fushek is currently waiting for a hearing from the Arizona Supreme Court as to whether he has the right to a jury trial on the remaining seven counts. He declares his innocence.
Well now Fushek, who is evidently seeking laicization, has started a “Praise and Worship Center” in the area.
Here’s an article from today’s East Valley Tribune:
Dale Fushek, the former pastor of Mesa’s St. Timothy’s Catholic Community, who was indicted on sexually-related misdemeanor charges in November 2005, was back before a congregation Thursday for the first time in three years.
Although he sent out no invitations, instead letting supporters spread news of his return, more than 550 people attended the first service of the nondenominational Praise and Worship Center at the downtown Mesa Marriott hotel.
Mesa resident Elizabeth Culverson trembled with tears while she lingered in line to hug Fushek after the service. She said she had waited a long time to hear him preach again and felt blessed to be in the audience.
“God gave us a great gift today,” she said.
snip
On Thanksgiving Day, he said he was happy to be back before a group of worshippers.“I feel alive again,” he said after the two-hour service Thursday morning. “This was inspiring and beautiful. I thought there was a really good spirit among the people here.”
Pam Davis of Mesa said she thought having the first service take place on Thanksgiving was appropriate.
“It’s called ‘Praise and Worship,’ and how could you not on Thanksgiving?” she said, adding that the service will complement her regular church attendance.
Fushek said he started the center not as competition to the church but as a place where people can come to worship between regular services.
“This is not a church. It is not intended to draw people away from their denominations,” he said.
The Praise and Worship Center will meet periodically, to start, Fushek said, but he hopes to raise enough money and interest to meet every week starting next year.
The next service is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 23 at the Mesa Convention Center, 200 N. Centennial Way.
Former priest Mark Dippre, who is running the center with Fushek, said they are hoping to offer an alternate place of worship that is more accepting than some churches in the East Valley.
People in attendance at the first service waited in long lines to personally thank Fushek for starting the center.
As the service ended Thursday, the people in the audience raised their voices to sing “Blessed Be Your Name.”
Fushek joined in, his arms raised toward the ceiling, his eyes closed tight.
“Happy Thanksgiving. I love you,” he said, in closing. “I thank you so much, and it won’t be three more years until I see you again. I hope to see you every week soon.”
For more information about the Praise and Worship Center, go to
Lots of code words in there. Lots of ego, if I dare say so, too.
(Dippre resigned from his parish in 2002. A brief article on it from the 10/1/02 AZ Republic is available only through archives, but the gist:
The pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Tempe resigned last week, blaming church members whose “letters or misguided rumors have killed this servant’s spirit.”
The Rev. Mark Dippre, 38, resigned Wednesday. Letters read at Sunday Masses at the church, from him and Bishop Thomas O’Brien, emphasized that Dippre’s resignation is not the result of “any scandal or allegations.”
He is taking a leave of absence “to re-evaluate whether he wants to be a priest,” diocesan spokeswoman Kim Sue Lia Perkes said Monday.
“It’s a hard job,” said Msgr. Dale Fushek of St. Timothy Church, where Dippre worked before his promotion two years ago. “There’s lots of responsibility, and some take criticism harder than others.”
snip
Toni Logan of Tempe said Dippre arrived with high hopes. The parish had been his first assignment after ordination, and his return “seemed like an answered prayer,” she said.
But he met “huge resistance” when he standardized church services, she said.
“It is ghastly to me that as community members, we would drive a pastor off rather than welcoming and accepting him,” she said.
“When he was put on administrative leave, he was told not to administer the sacraments and to not present himself as a priest,” Jim Dwyer, spokesman for the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, said Friday. “If he is not violating that, we wouldn’t have to know specifically what he is doing.”
The Praise and Worship Center answers some key questions about the new ministry on a Web site, www.praiseandworshipcenter.net. The site spells out the ministry’s mission statement, among other things.
Fushek, 55, faces one count of assault, five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count of indecent exposure. Teens complained that he carried on sexually explicit discussions with them during confession, exposed himself to them as he got into his hot tub and created a sexually charged setting with teens present.
Fushek founded Life Teen, one of the largest international Catholic teen organizations that today has about 120,000 youths enrolled in 1,080 programs in 20 countries.
Dwyer said Catholic leaders had been aware that Fushek and others were exploring their new ministry.
“We heard about some of the promotional materials that were done, but we didn’t know if it was ever going to take place,” Dwyer said. “We made it clear to the Catholics at St. Timothy’s that it wouldn’t be (regarded as) an official Catholic service. But other than that, we have no control on what he does as a Catholic citizen.”
Fushek told the Tribune after the service Thursday that he was resigning from the priesthood, but Dwyer said the diocese has not received notification.
“I am not aware of any official resignation, and his status really hasn’t changed,” Dwyer said. “He definitely would have to contact the bishop first and go through some formal process.”
Mark Dipree, a former priest, is working with Fushek in the ministry. The Web site listed 2029 N. Alma School Road, Suite 107-14, Chandler as the address for the Praise and Worship Center, but the location is a mail drop, not a church office.
If Fushek is convicted, he likely would have to register as a sex offender, which would restrict him from being around youth.
A Web site called www.helpmonsignordale.com continues to solicit funds for Fushek’s legal defense, and it uses the same address as the Praise and Worship Center.
Well, I guess they’d better change the name now, eh?
If a priest leaves the priesthood, for whatever reasons, he should not stay in the same area and start something new, especially something which sounds like a church. It causes scandal and confusion among the faithful, which is never the right thing to do. And given the fact that his ministry was with teens who are so impressionable, it is even more important that he NOT cause scandal.
What strikes me is that his “return” should not be perceived as an indictment of LifeTeen nor of charistmatic-style praise and worship. This is, as Amy hints, about ego and about not coming to grip with reality. Whether it is contemporary worship, or traditional Catholic worship, as in the case of Fr. Maciel of the Legionairres of Christ, it is about an abuser or sexual deviant whose own sense of self is so large that the person can not go through the necessary steps of accepting responsibility for one’s actions, admitting guilt (Maciel never has, and Fushek seems to be heading down the same road) and undergoing true repentance. How sad.
I read the FAQ section on the link Amy provided. Truly frightening.
I am so sad to hear about this turn of events. I’ve been a LifeTeen Core member for 7 years and heard Fr. Dale many times. He always seemed so committed to the Catholic faith and it dumbfounds me that he is now abandoning it. Father also helped build the high school youth program at St. Tim’s into a dynamic group with a couple hundred kids attending each week. I fear that his cult of personality will attract vulnerable teens & other Catholics to this new “worship center” instead of the Church. It’s time to run, not walk, to the nearest adoration chapel.
I have some had of the same Life Teen experiences as Kristy. It was a very good ministry when I was involved. It is just so sad to see this. Not sure what is happening but it seems he is doing this without his bishops approval. That to me is a huge disappointment. His scandal troubles came from thinking he was above temptation and above the rules. This seems like more of the same.
550 people!?! Are they crazy? I missed that number the first time I looked at the story, I figured it was 15 or something. I can’t believe that many people would show up to see this guy.
Oh. He expects that some people will be “tithing” to support it. He’s going to hold services on Sundays. But it’s not going to compete with any churches: sure.
Bishop Olmsted needs to address this with the Diocese, strongly and quickly, in addition to dealing with Fushek directly, IMNSHO. It is amazing to me the cult of personality that surrounds these “charismatic” priests, and how it blinds those parishioners who would be otherwise horrified at this.
IMNSHO?
In My Not-So-Humble Opinion.
What strikes me is that his “return” should not be perceived as an indictment of LifeTeen nor of charistmatic-style praise and worship.
LifeTeen and charismatic “style” worship is predicated on how I feel about it too much of the time. Most who engage in this are simply unfortunately and sadly blind to its effects. Most contemporary Catholic music is simply inviting us to sit down to dinner. It does not ask anything of us or lead us to God or God’s will. I do not wish to be judgmental of persons, but this contemporary music has led us down a different path often by wolves in sheeps clothing. It is all so sad. Let each person in ministry ask if it is entertainment values that drive us, or if indeed we are called to worship.
It’s probably not to my credit, but really charismatic priests set my teeth on edge. If we start looking to a priest, instead of the sacramental ministry of the priesthood, we’re really courting the edge of idolatry.
Not to mention the fact that I keep hearing about, or running into, charismatic priests (and bishops) who are either hertodox or criminal, (Marciel Marciel, Bruce Ritter, Rebert Weakland…). I still run into progressives who think of Rembert Weakland as a “saint”. The whole cult of personality scares me.
This whole thing is very sad, especially if the sexual allegations are true. It reminds me of something that one of the parishioners at St Julia’s in Weston said about the notorious pedophile priest John Geoghan. He said that Geoghan attracted young people to his Masses because of the great way he could relate to them. It’s all part of how they groom their victims.
Regarding Charismatic style music not leading us to God’s will as per Fr. Keyes’ comment, I beg to differ. There is a great deal of beautiful contemporary music that elevates the heart and mind to the worship of God. I have found that as the Scriptures say, God inhabits the praise of His people, and He is present where He is worshipped. I personally have been inspired many times by new music just as much as by traditional music.
We are not all made the same, and I believe the Lord loves it when we honor Him with all our heart, whether it be with new or old music,
This over-inflated egomaniac indeed will solicite funds and get them from the hundreds of sorry, sick, emotional cult followers until Fushek goes to prison, which he will, for years of sexual abuse. I can’t wait for that day — good ridance and good-bye to the vilest of sexual predators.
Maggie Hyland, Ph.D.
It is so good the blogger’s are not buying into this phony man’s scheme. He need’s money for his defense fund. This will bring him plenty,as there are so many people that have been totally taken in by him. It Smells of another Jim Jone’s situation if you ask me. How can people be so nieve. He is so guilty. It is so sad how he is flying in the face of the victum’s. Imagine how they have to feel. So sad
Snake Oil Salesman Supreme!
The old adage, “Fools and their money are soon parted.” certainly rings true here. How can people be so taken in by this con-man? Actually, the Roman Catholic Church would be better off without him, as he is another noose around their neck.
If he were such a good priest, he would show the world more humility, rather than this huge ego, seeking money. Too bad he is not out doing good works of mercy; I might be more impressed.
Now, it’s just affirmation of his complicity with what he’s been charged.
What about the Tribune? How can a reputable newspaper be so unfair in it’s reporting? This is the second time they have promoted Dale Fushek and his causes. The last time they reported and published his defense fund bank acount number. What other individual pending criminal/misdemeanor allegations is allowed such privelage? Dale Fushek is only as powerful as those that enable him to be so. Tribune Newspaper you are an enabler and should be called to task for unfair reporting. Where is the voice of the survivors? What about there need for a ministry of healing and their defense funds? Do you suppose the Tribune took into consideration how they may have “caused more harm” to the survivors by publishing this promotional series of articles?
The older I get the more I come to appreciate two things:
(1) Priests that simply and humbly say the Mass (whichever form), without a lot of interjection of their personality, sensitivities and issues; i.e. as servants of God and his people.
(2) What Karl Marx said about religion: “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people. The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is required for their real happiness. The demand to give up the illusion about its condition is the demand to give up a condition which needs illusions.”
Parishioners who love their “great guy” priests that abuse their children, their finances, or the teachings of the Church are suffering from just these sorts of happy religious illusions, and not having their real condition healed (i.e., being saved).
In my first parish they wanted to do lifeteen. I was dubious and thought it just another fad. I was the only one not sent to be “trained” by Dale. Maybe a good thing. He should not be engaged in public ministry of any kind until his cases are resolved. If he leaves the priesthood under a cloud then he should not be involved in any public ministry. This is not your standard laicization. The diocese is responsible for this man until he is no longer in the clerical state, financially and legally responsible. They should crack down immediately before it costs them more reputation and more money. I can’t understand why they did not stop him or issue a precept against him.
To say he is not trying to pull people away from the church while his doppelganger states he wants to establish an alternative place to worship makes me feel they should get their stories straight.
Dale Fushek is bad news from the word go and we all know it. He is a disgrace to the Roman Catholic Church and is a disgrace to himself. His supporters are blind. The diocese continues to take a weak position and this paints a picture of Bishop Olmstead as bad as, if not worse than former Bishop O’Brien. I am a parishoner at St. Tim’s and the only talk about Dale is in hushed whispers. And no one has addressed this from the pulpit. Sadly, it is a divided parish and it will continue to split even further. Pastor Fr. Jack Spaulding needs to step up and speak the truth to his flock. He should very publicly challenge Fushek to do the right thing.
From Amy: Apparently he did, this past weekend.
As a fairly new parish member of St. Tim’s I wanted to believe that the allegations against our former pastor would be found to be false and he would be exonerated. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him from those that knew him and I regretted the fact that I never heard him preach in our church. However now Fushek has declared that he is resigning from the priesthood and starting a so-called Praise and Worship Center of his own, I have serious doubts about his innocense because if he was truly a man of God, truly believing in the Catholic faith that he promoted and taught for 20 some years, he could never resign from the priesthood. If he is innocent he should fight to prove it, not step down from all that he supposedly believed in. He might just as well say that all his years in the priesthood were a shame, and perhaps that is what he is telling us now. Obviously he has a large ego, which is perhaps bolstered by some sheeple followers of his that have similar delusional egos also. But his recent actions are more scandelous that even the sexual abuse allegations against him. He has become another Judas. I am truly saddened for him and I pray that he will come back to his senses and to the true teachings of the Church.
Going through a Lifeteen program, and seeing all the fruits it had on my friends and I, this really saddens me. I had friends in the Arizona area who knew the former Father Dale, and they are all completely shocked and upset about this, as we all would be. I think Dale Fuschek did a great thing in starting the Lifeteen program, even though he selfishly misused it. Youth ministry is an area that is greatly needed in our Church in the midst of a culture of . Going to a Catholic high school, barely any of my classmates lived their faith besides the ones in the Lifeteen youth group. It makes Catholicism “cool” which most teens today need to think our its not going to happen. It also gives them peer support in their faith. They can have great parents, but without good friends, many will fall away… and believe me, i’ve seen it. Once the teens have this “base” for their faith, they can grow on it (like I did), learn more about Catholicism, and become a better Catholic. It’s gravely unfortunate that there are a SMALL number of priests and youth ministers who completely use this to their advantage. But there are priests like that anywhere.. charismatic or traditional. Many noncatholics think the same way of the Catholic Church as we’re thinking about Lifeteen right now in relation to abuse crimes. Just because there are a very small number of cases, doesn’t mean we go against this program, which has converted thousands of teens to the Catholic church. This generation needs strong Catholics, and I think we need to do our best in serving God and Church and making that happen. To whom much is given, much is expected. God bless you all
I don’t see how anyone who has ever been lucky enough to hear Fr. Dale preach can be negative about the Praise and Worship Center. Praise God! This is wonderful news!! My regret is that I no longer live in Arizona or I too would have been among the 500 in attendance at his service. I live on the east coast now and no longer attend Mass because is it so very depressing. There’s no praise. Nothing remotly uplifting. The priests here sound like uninspired radio announcers. Anyone critizing Dale Fushek for his methods has either never heard him preach or has a heart that is not open to the Holy Spirit. As far as his legal troubles goes, has the constitution changed? I thought all accused were innocent until proven guilty…
My only caution is the attempts I have seen on the part of several commenters here (including some priests?) to begin drawing parallels from Fushek’s spirituality (self-described charismatic) to his sin.
I’m not aware of any legitimate research that suggests that any one approach to prayer or even liturgical music (as Fr. Keyes suggests) is more prone to sexual deviancy or sin, nor has the Magisterium ever taken such a position.
Perhaps a bit more thoughtful reflection is warranted.
If Father Fushek has the services on Sunday’s he will pull people away from their masses and other churches. I think he wants this, as it will bring more money his way and at the end of the day this is what it is all about.
Margaret – your comments are exactly what most of us feared would happen to those who were immersed in LifeTeen and then left to go somewhere else. When worship is based entirely on emotion and personality, of course one will be let down once one leaves the three-ring circus. The Catholic Church is 2,000 years old. She has endured for centuries and never has had to rely on the type of worship that Dale Fushek established. My guess is that he took advantage of the break-down in the family and placed a false substitute in the family structure where teens could receive the love and attention that they should have been receiving from their families. When that rug was pulled out from under them, or if they went somewhere to the “depressing” liturgies, they were lost and hurt. Dale Fushek presented a false picture of the Catholic faith, and you should never leave the Church because the Mass style doesn’t suit you – She is the One True Church and no where else can you receive the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I’m sorry if that doesn’t excite you in the same way that Dale Fushek’s preaching did. That’s really a shame, cause the Eucharist is where it’s at, even if the homily is boring! Get back to (the Catholic) Church!
Margaret (entry#5) has summed up the problem. When Mass is no longer “exciting” we stop going. How very sad. I have been involved with LifeTeen for 12 years and have found it an extraordinary program WHEN USED CORRECTLY. When used to just make Mass “not boring” it leads to people leaving the church as soon as they are not near a Lifeteen program. LifeTeen should be treated as a seeker program and should lead people into Church (or back into) where they should then be led deeper into the Catholic life. in most successful programs I know the participants gradually “grow up” spiritually and develop a deep devotio for the more traditional elements of Catholicism. The program can have problems; it can also be incredible. We can’t cast blanket judgement on a program.
So what else is new? People see what they want to see. Religion is an opiate of the people. Try being like the people in the nations that do not allow any worship of any kind in any place. What would you do to worship your God? You are able to worship any time and anyplace… No one can stop you or take it away from you…you do it from your heart to your mind and back. It’s a beautiful thing like breathing Him in and out that no one knows but you and your Savior. Try this kind of real worship people & the churches will all be empty.
Remember this book Fushek wrote:
Your One Stop Guide to the Mass
I wonder how his own written words back then, would compare to his actions today.
Msg Dale was able to take the weekly gospels and apply them directly to the present day. His homilies reached out and touched your heart. It was not a three ring circus. It was refreshing and recharging. Yes the catholic church has been around for thousands of years. However, the homilies need to continue to address the present day and help lead us to follow Jesus in this difficult and changing world. Going to Mass every Sunday was as recharging for my Catholic Faith as attending a weekend retreat.
The Msgr. Fushek I knew was a good man who truly tried hard for the Lord and His Church. I can count 5 priests with as much ability and the humble desire to truly use it for God’s glory and that of His Church. Yes, he may be innocent or guilty of the crimes before him; let he without sin cast the first stone. In the meantime, let us pray for mercy and truth to prevail and for the Church to be victorious.
LifeTeen is highly successful drawing a couple of generations of teens into a relationship with Jesus and the life of the Church. There are countless fruits. If you have something else that is working, then use it. Another option is to take the many sound ministry principles of Life Teen, discard what is incompatible for your parish, and call it whatever you’d like; LifeTeen does not hold the patent for these ideas, they are easily incorporated.
Having lived the spectrum of solid Catholic spirituality from the Legion to Pre-Vatican Latin Masses to humdrum Gather-Masses to LifeTeen to charismatic, the key is the heart. “the Lord seeks those who worship Him in spirit and truth”. While I love the Latin Mass and I love a more charismatic Mass, good and bad things happens in either place. What is revolting to the Lord is that hum-drum lukewarm malaisse found in 95% of parish Masses “how I wish you were hot or cold, but because you are lukewarm I spew you from my mouth”. So, zealots unite and fight the common enemy of complacency/irrelevance found in the sad Catholic majority of Masses. Let the passion of God consume our entire being, that upon looking at you one can no longer distinguish between the fire of God and that which He consumes.
To return to the Dale topic, perhaps the Christ like position should be to presume holy intent from an honest soul and to pray for God’s truth and mercy to pull him and his followers through this mess. I’m glad Fr. Jack addressed the issue from the pulpit at St. Tim’s this weekend; that man is the true Altare Christi with great courage, faith, and humility.
A note to Margaret: I was there, leaving St. Tim’s and being 2000 miles away and suffering through the bland-ness that is not worthy of the greatness of God, His Mass, or His Eucharistic Miracle. Still, it is true… it is Jesus under the form of bread and wine, but God deserves better worship than we give Him and it seems you sense that. 1. Come back, if only for Him. God is more honored by your faithfulness in this spiritual desert than in the oasis, honor Him. 2. Don’t settle, demand better worship. Find the devout, ask on this site, go where the faith and worship bear great fruit. 3. OR BE THE SOLUTION like so many humble people have, ask God to give you wisdom in bringing better and more worshipful Masses to whatever local parish is open to it, change from being a receiver to a giver. In doing so, the Lord Jesus promises you will receive far more.; but more importantly, God demands it and is worthy of it. and also many souls need saving and maybe it is time for you (and all of us) to step-up.
Dear Jesus, bless Msgr. Dale. Give him truth, return him to that original amazing faithfulness. Have mercy on him and on all past, present, and future followers that he may influence. In all things Lord, Your will be done and let Your name be most highly exhalted.
-john b
When I was “trained” by Father Dale in the ways of LIFETEEN, he spoke of being faithful and obedient to your Bishop. I guess that Dale no longer believes this. Maybe it is only the case when you are the “Golden Boy” of the Bishop. Since Bishop O’Brien screwed up, I guess Dale no longer has to be faithful and obedient.
I beg to differ with respect to implimenting and/or picking and choosing Life Teen material.
Our parish advertised Life Teen and when the Life Teen organization found out that we were not FULLY implimenting everything in it’s program, we were told to cease and desist using the Life Teen name. Our parish was forced to adopt a new name for our teen program.
That was a business, not a ministry. We chose to drop it.
A STATEMENT FROM THE DIOCESE OF PHOENIX
Re: The Praise and Worship Service – Dale Fushek and Mark Dippre
November 27, 2007
On Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2007, Dale Fushek, a priest of the Diocese of Phoenix on administrative leave, conducted a praise and worship service that was in opposition to directives given to him to cease all public and sacred ministries. Mark Dippre, a priest who left public priestly ministry to enter into a civil marriage and is not a priest in good standing, also participated in the service. The service was not Catholic nor was it endorsed by the Catholic Church. We encourage the Catholic faithful to keep the Holy Mass, the ultimate form of praise and worship, as the center of their lives.
——————————————————————————–
From Amy: Many thanks!
The past comments from Michelle, Margaret and John B. simply seem to summarize the current conflicts of today’s Catholic Church and are certainly pertinent in today’s culture. Where we are in God’s Plan of Salvation right now is complicated by our culture and its “What’s in it for Me” focus. Whether we praise and worship Our Creator and Heavenly Father with bells and whistles and through our emotional experiences, or through our will alone shouldn’t be our focus. Above all, humility is truth, and as long as we are seeking the path of humility as we approach Our Lord, we won’t be caught up in the worship style of the moment.
A devotion to a more bland mass can be just as prideful if it causes us to judge those moved by their emotions. After all, we all know God meets us right where we are at.
As so eloquently stated, we must focus on Our Heavenly Father, and His gift of Himself in the Eucharist. The laws given to us by the Magisterium, including liturgical practices, are ther to keep us in line, so that situations like this, void of all humility on Fr. Dale’s part, can be avoided.
Nevertheless, we know that God does work through sinful people. We must pray that Fr. Dale answers God’s call to humility, which can seeminly be more easily attained by hanging up his preaching robes and bearing his cross humbly. If he succumbs to giving up what he loves most, and dying to himself, perhaps purification could happen here on earth!
Although I am disappointed by Msgr. Dale’s actions, I am still grateful for the ministry he began in Life Teen. I am a former Life Teen youth minister and still beleive that what Life Teen does with teens is solidly orthodox Catholic. I myself as a result still attend Mass both on Sundays and at least 3 others time a week, becuase of what I’ve learned through the Life Teen program back in 2000. The faith that was handed down to me through Life Teen trainings, retreats, etc… is something that has penetrated my entire life, marriage, job, school etc… The Catholic Faith is about Jesus Christ. To put your faith in a homily, a priest, or a program just demonstrates a lack of true faith. Pray for the grace to truly experience what God’s timelessness is in the Eucharist.
The reason the Catholic church has endured for 2,000 years (Michele, Nov. 27) is due to the fact that it based much of it its attendance on fear. Many centuries ago, the Roman Catholic Church decided the rules the people would have to follow to belong to the One True Church and to obtain salvation through the church. These rules were made to control the uneducated masses of people. Jesus wanted everyone to know and understand that you do not need a church to be a walking, living, present day Christ. You must go within yourself and find the Christ within you.
The Catholic Church wants us to believe that everyone (including priests) should strive for perfection. We can’t be perfect, but how we deal wth our imperfections is the key to walking the path that leads us to our mission on this earth. From my experiences with Msgr. Dale, I have always felt that he is a truly spiritual person. He truly wants to help all people. But he’s not perfect and he has made mistakes that he has to deal with for the rest of his life. I went to his mass because he spoke to my heart. He helped me be a better person each week. After he left, I continued to go to mass for about 6 months and realized the Catholic church has nothing for me. I’ve been on my own spiritual quest, listening to my own heart, instead of what the church forces me to believe to be a member.
I have not seen Msgr. Dale since he left St Tims. I regret missing the last meeting, and I will be there this morning.
Colleen,
You said “The reason the Catholic church has endured for 2,000 years (Michele, Nov. 27) is due to the fact that it based much of it its attendance on fear.”
The reason the Catholic Church has “endured” is because Jesus is the head of the Catholic Church. Eph.5
[23] For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
She stands today “due to the fact” that Jesus Himself promises us in Matt.16
[18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.
The truth is (if it endures as you claim because of mans rule) the church would have fallen long ago. She stands today BECAUSE of the head, Jesus Christ. And no matter what we do, His mercy endures. Trust in Jesus Colleen, not man and see as Jesus sees.
Eph 5[25] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
[26] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
[27] that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
[28] Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
[29] For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church,
[30] because we are members of his body.
Love the Church as Christ loves the Church Colleen. Do not give up on His Church, Trust in what Jesus is doing to sanctify and cleanse His bride.
In closing, you said “The Catholic Church wants us to believe that everyone (including priests) should strive for perfection. We can’t be perfect, ”
Again, Trust in Jesus. He perfects the faithful. It is by His grace we ARE being perfected in,with and through Him.Matt.5
[48] You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Phil.3
[12] Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Heb.2
[10] For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.
Do not become weary Colleen…as St. Paul says in Phil 2 [12] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; [13] for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
The only thing we can do now for (Father) Dale is pray. His accountability is great. Jas.3
[1] Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.
Peace.
(another)Michele
Someone said when you come to a fork in the road take it and FD has! I am a cradle catholic, a former St. Timr and quite honestly was not a fan of then Monsignor Dale. I believed him to be overly ambitious with his eyes set on the vatican. Although I am not a professional profiler having a side interest in young boys “totally” contradicts the political ambition he had for climbing the catholic heirarchy, perhaps with the goal of becoming Pope Dale! Therefore, logic and as well as the psychology tells me the allegations made will prove to be not true in a court of law when the supreme court grants a jury trial.
Having said that, there has never been a person who is able to move a congregation and with such passion as FD. His sermons (homilies) touched deep into ones’ spirit. I find his return, a different path he has decided to take not one of ego, but of calling. He has submitted his resignation as a priest and therefore has every right to pursue his interests and talents. Remember, innocent until proven GUILTY, not the other way around. I’m no turnip that has fallen off the turnip truck, naive nor susceptable to brain washing. I’m just a woman on the sidelines waiting to see just what and where FD will take the Praise and Worship Center. Since the Vatican is no longer in his cards. there’s alway Joel Osteen and Dr. Schuller’s Hour of Power he can aspire to. Grace & Blessings…
Finally the Phoenix Diocese has come out with an official statement, (again), this one a bit stronger than the one on the 27th of November, but still not defining what measures the diocese will take against Fushek and Dippe.
At the end of this post I will include the webpage for the latest local newpaper that published it’s coverage of the most recent service (Jan.6, 2008) of the Praise and Worship Center. It would seem that Fushek’s congregation is increasing to over 700 attendees. The next service will be on the 13th of Jan.
STATEMENT OF THE DIOCESE OF PHOENIX
Re: The Praise and Worship Center
January 3, 2008
The Praise and Worship Services being led by Dale Fushek, a priest of the Diocese of Phoenix on administrative leave, and Mark Dippre, a priest who left public ministry to enter into a civil marriage and a priest not in good standing, are not endorsed by the Catholic Church. Both of these men have been ordained Catholic priests and ministered in the Diocese of Phoenix. Their actions are not in union with the Catholic Church and may potentially mislead well intentioned Catholics and other members of the Christian faithful. It is important for the faithful to know that both priests are acting contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church and remain disobedient to directives of the Bishop of Phoenix to whom they pledged obedience and respect when they were ordained to the priesthood.
The Diocese of Phoenix wishes to express its grave concern for Catholics who may be misled or confused by the actions of Dale Fushek and Mark Dippre. Therefore, the Diocese of Phoenix does not endorse the actions of these priests and we encourage Catholics to refrain from attending or supporting the Praise and Worship Center. We remind Catholics that the ultimate form of praise and worship is and always will be the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and we urge them to keep the Mass as the center of their lives. There is no substitution for the graces received at Mass and no prayer more edifying.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/0104mr-priest0105.html
Paul.
Michele,
This is what John B says:
“Another option is to take the many sound ministry principles of Life Teen, discard what is incompatible for your parish, and call it whatever you’d like; LifeTeen does not hold the patent for these ideas, they are easily incorporated. I beg to differ with respect to implimenting and/or picking and choosing Life Teen material.”
The key words being: “Call it whatever you’d like…”
You cannot take the name of another organization, and not preach its teachings and claim to be it. You may, however, take the aspects of LifeTeen that you appreciate and value, and use it however you like in your parish, with a different name. It has been done many times, and many positives have come out of amazing programs that have implemented LifeTeen’s ideals and their own.
And in regards to what you said:
“That was a business, not a ministry. We chose to drop it.”
Ministry is serving. LifeTeen does nothing but serve the youth of yesterday, today and tomorrow. They serve by their catechisis, their outreach, their worship, their fellowship, and their love. I do not know what kind of ministry you were looking for, but Jesus served, and that is all we are called to do.
Michele,
This is what John B says:
“Another option is to take the many sound ministry principles of Life Teen, discard what is incompatible for your parish, and call it whatever you’d like; LifeTeen does not hold the patent for these ideas, they are easily incorporated.”
The key words being: “Call it whatever you’d like…”
You cannot take the name of another organization, and not preach its teachings and claim to be it. You may, however, take the aspects of LifeTeen that you appreciate and value, and use it however you like in your parish, with a different name. It has been done many times, and many positives have come out of amazing programs that have implemented LifeTeen’s ideals and their own.
And in regards to what you said:
“That was a business, not a ministry. We chose to drop it.”
Ministry is serving. LifeTeen does nothing but serve the youth of yesterday, today and tomorrow. They serve by their catechisis, their outreach, their worship, their fellowship, and their love. I do not know what kind of ministry you were looking for, but Jesus served, and that is all we are called to do.