Posted on 12/16/2008 6:47:29 AM PST by NYer
Fr. Dale Fushek, best known for being one of the founders of "Life Teen", has finally been excommunicated.Marcel has a reaction statement from the current president of Life Teen, Randy Raus, making the point that Fr. Fushek's involvement with Life Teen is long over:December 15, 2008-The Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix, has issued a Decree of Excommunication to Reverend Monsignor Dale Fushek and Reverend Mark Dippre.
Fushek and Dippre have incurred the censure of excommunication because they have chosen to be in schism with the Catholic Church by establishing and leading an opposing ecclesial community known to the public as the Praise and Worship Center. Both priests have consistently refused to comply with explicit directions by Bishop Olmsted to discontinue engaging in public ministry. The excommunications were incurred after repeated offers of reconciliation were ignored. The decree of excommunication by Bishop Olmsted declares the censure that Fushek and Dippre, as ordained priests, have brought upon themselves. The purpose of these sanctions is to reconcile both men with the Catholic Church and to preserve the integrity and unity of the Diocese.
... Bishop Olmsted continues to express his grave concern for Catholics who may be misled or confused by the actions of Dale Fushek and Mark Dippre. The Diocese of Phoenix does not endorse the actions of these excommunicated 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.
Fr. Fushek (wiki entry) has been very bad news for a long time. In 2005 he was indicted for sexually-related misdemeanor charges. The one-time vicar general of the diocese was accused of sexually abusing a teen, and costing the diocese a $100,000 settlement. I commented on this developing story briefly back in January.This excommunication is not connected in any way with the ministry of Life Teen, as all of the actions that led to this occurred after Rev. Dale Fushek’s involvement with our ministry. Further, I want to make it clear that Life Teen is in no way associated with his new venture.
Even though it has been almost four years since he has been directly involved with the movement of Life Teen, the media continues to associate Rev. Dale Fushek with Life Teen. While we continue to pray for Rev. Dale Fushek, the movement of Life Teen is in full support of Bishop Olmsted and Diocese of Phoenix in this matter.
That’s funny. And apt.
So did he get excommed for the accusations of inproper sexual behavior or for the Praise and worship Center?
I heard the term Charasmatic Catholic on EWTN talk radio and it sounds like a group much life Pentecostals. So that would fit the Praise and worship.
What I did not pick up was if Charasmatic Catholics are a dif sect apart from the Roman Catholic Church.
I HATE Life Teen....it’s more about ENTERTAINMENT than for the Mass.
The picture makes the defrock fairy look like Tim Russert on a bad day.
The latter.
He was warned repeatedly to cease and desist and he refused. Hence the excommunication.
Excommunication is reserved for perseverance in serious sin, in the face of requests to abandon it. On the other hand, sins committed in the past, however serious, and which are no longer occurring and for which a person has expressed remorse, do not necessitate an excommunication.
The point being that excommunication is intended to bring a perp to repentance, rather than to nail him or her for previous errant behavior.
>>What I did not pick up was if Charasmatic Catholics are a dif sect apart from the Roman Catholic Church.<<
Can you give an opinion on this TC?
That photo? . . . Wow. Just . . wow.
He was relieved from his duties due to the improper behavior, and then went off and effectively founded a new religion, which resulted in formal excommunication.
What I did not pick up was if Charasmatic Catholics are a dif sect apart from the Roman Catholic Church.
Charismatic Catholics aren't a different sect. Fushek's organization is, however.
Praise and Worship Center
Sounds very "evangelical".
Charismatic Catholics are not a sect. They are Catholics who - at times, as individuals or in groups - pray in ways that are similar to Charismatic or Pentecostal Protestants. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is an approved movement in the Catholic Church, under the authority of the Vatican and local Bishops.
If individuals or groups drift from Catholic doctrine or approved practice, they are subject to the same disciplinary guidance as any other Catholics. For example, several years ago the U.S. Bishops (I think, although the instruction might have originated in Rome) prohibited Charismatics from anointing with oil during prayers for healing, because of the potential confusion with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.
Great explanation.
Thanks for taking the time to clarify that.
He also bears a resemblance to Bob Beckel.
You’re welcome. The Charismatic Renewal is unfamiliar to many Catholics, and very dubious to others, especially to people who experienced some of the wacka-doo that went on in the early 70s.
Fr. Fushek and the other gentleman seem to have begun a Protestant congregation, which would be equally Non-Catholic whether its practices were charismatic or not.
>>The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is an approved movement in the Catholic Church, under the authority of the Vatican and local Bishops.<<
I thought that was correct but I didn’t want to give an opinion, not being Charismatic myself. Thanks!
You’re welcome, too! Having a good Advent?
The point being that excommunication is intended to bring a perp to repentance, rather than to nail him or her for previous errant behavior.
Bears repeating.
There is also the punishment of "defrocking," which would be more appropriate for a priest convicted of sexual molestation of a minor. The priest would be laicized and prevented from acting publicly as a priest.
It sounds as if this priest was already laicized, but I don't know.
What part of these beliefs make you believe they are "Protestant"?
3. What is a Praise and Worship Center?
It is not a "new religion," but is a gathering of people of diverse religious backgrounds and experience as a community for the purpose of praising God in prayer and in service. There will be Sunday services, and eventually services and ministries during the week. The center is Christian in its orientation, but is neither Catholic nor Protestant. It is truly ecumenical and multi-denominational.4. Will non-Catholics come to this and feel at home or will there be strong Catholic influence?.
Because the Praise and Worship Center is not affiliated with any specific denomination, there are no doctrinal guidelines or mandated acceptance of proscribed theology required for membership. There will be a spirit of listening to each others' opinions and an atmosphere of learning and growing from sharing experiences and insights. Unconditional love, acceptance of each person in a non-judgmental way, the centrality of Christ's message of love and forgiveness, and the teachings of the gospel will be the sources of the message of the Center. Moral and family decisions will be left up to the spiritual discernment of each individual member.
Charismatic Catholics, if you mean Spirit-Filled, are very much a part of the Catholic Church. The CC is where the renewal that spread through the mainline churches in the 80s began.
There is something aberrant in these two, that they would be excommunicated. It would not be simply their Praise and Worship Center.
Else why would Nancy P not be excommunicated????
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