LifeTeen founder arrested

catholic world news ^ | 11.21.05 | cwnews.com

[el_chupacabra]

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 of a minor. He has consistently said that he is not guilty of the charges.

[kstewskis]

...and here we go!

[lainie]

http://www.lifeteen.com/default.aspx?PageID=AUHOME


Sad.

[wideawake]

He has consistently said that he is not guilty of the charges.

I'll point out a few things:

(1) The actual molesters usually admit that they did it and claim that they were stressed, or drinking or having psychological problems.

(2) Unlike most molesters, he led a ministry that was deeply and sincerely hated by every leftist in and out of the Church.

(3) It is extremely convenient nowadays to make such claims because there is a clear monetary reward to be gained.

He may very well be guilty, but this case is different from others so far.

[Americanwolf]

He may very well be guilty, but this case is different from others so far.

How so... The Archdiocese of Phoenix has had several priest that have been investigated and charged with the similar charges it is a problem down here... How do you see this as any different?

[wideawake]

(1) His prominence - unlike most molesters he has gone out of his way to participate in a very visible ministry and to invite the scrutiny of hundreds of thousands of people.

(2) He has adamantly denied the allegations to the hilt, whereas the usual tack taken by these guys when they are caught is to admit and plead psychological factors like addiction or depression.

These aspects are different. They don't exonerate him by any means, but the break from the pattern is interesting.

[Americanwolf]

Ok I understand where you are coming from with that...

Father O'Brien (whom Fushak was 2nd to.)who was also accused of similar charges was very much the same way... stayed very public.. Granted he was not involved with groups such as life teen, and denied voraciously the charges against him.

And Fushacks vocalness had decreased in recent months here....

Unfortunately, I told my brother this morning when we heard the press conference was going to occur, that it would not surprise me if he was being charged for something like he has...

[madprof98]

LifeTeen seems to me to have been very, very good for young people in our parishes. Sadly, though, it now appears that our church youth groups need a NON-clerical chaperone in order for parents to trust that their kids are safe.

[el_chupacabra]

Father O'Brien (whom Fushak was 2nd to.)who was also accused of similar charges was very much the same way... stayed very public

For the record, let's make one thing very clear. Bishop O'Brien was never accused of "similar charges." Bishop O'Brien was accused of "shuffling" abusers and eventually convicted of hit and run, but no one ever accused him of committing a physical act of sexual abuse.

[kstewskis]

Sadly, though, it now appears that our church youth groups need a NON-clerical chaperone in order for parents to trust that their kids are safe.

Personally, I wouldn't even rest with that either.

Unless my memory fails me (and that could be quite possible) I seem to remember that there was a "non-clerical chaperone" also accused of wrong-doing with a minor, in one of the incidents Fushek was dealing with.

Perhaps one of the locals can help me out here.

[Americanwolf]

My appologies... thanks for the correction...

On the other hand Morally I cannot make much separation between that act of trying to hide the molesters by shuffling them around, and the molesters themselves... As the head of the Diocese he should have confronted and dealt with the molesters immediately and severely..

[TotusTuus]

Yes, this case seems very different in many respects. I know the earlier charges that are still pending possible trial were very suspicious, including claims of recovery from "repressed" memories. Even then, the charges didn't involve him directly in sexual activity with the accuser.

I'm guessing that the Attorney General has been investigating trying to get more substantial charges from others. All I know is what is posted here and they are stated as:

...several charges of assault, indecent exposure, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

I can't make a worthwhile judgment here yet due to several factors.
1) The AG hasn't been completely objective throughout the whole ordeal here in Phoenix.
2) This Priest is a very "charismatic" (both senses of the word) individual who is the type to slap people on the back and hug them etc. This type of behaviour can lead to weak sorts of accusations such as above.

I don't know. Are these accusations of recent events, or do they go back over the last several decades? If so, why can't they charge him with explicitly molesting a minor? Answers to these might be a telling sign of what is going on at the AG's office.

I'll need to hear more about the charges before I can condemn this Priest. He may yet be completely innocent. (Or have a very strange fetish).

[Jeff Chandler]

I will leave my personal opinion of Fr. Fuschek out it and wait to see what transpires.

I never cared for the Life Teen services, which would INSIST upon everybody standing through the consecration, with the teens all standing on the altar in one big group hug during the consecration. Personally, when I was that age, having a teenage girl snuggling up next to me would be a bit of a distraction.

Fr. Fuschek's liturgies also seemed to be patterned after the Tonight Show, with mindless banter between him and the band leader. The prominence of the band was also highly distracting.

[Jeff Chandler]

he led a ministry that was deeply and sincerely hated by every leftist in and out of the Church.

The conservatives in the church were not amused by the radical liberties he took with the Sacred Liturgy.

[kstewskis]

Fr. Fuschek's liturgies also seemed to be patterned after the Tonight Show, with mindless banter between him and the band leader. The prominence of the band was also highly distracting.

Wasn't he the one who had polka music during one of his masses...that even then bishop O'Brien waved the finger at him?

[VermiciousKnid]

You can say that again, Jeff.

(I am among them.)

Regards,

[murphE]

Article about Monsignor Dale Fushek from 2005. (WARNING -not for the sensitive)

Cross to Bare

[marshmallow]

After high school, Fushek attended St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, California, just north of Los Angeles. The seminary, it was later documented, was a breeding ground for pedophiles and pedophile protectors in the church. Fushek received his master's in divinity there.

Uh oh.......I wish I hadn't read that. This is Mahony's pink palace and alma mater.

It has a 10% "sex abuse" quotient for its alumni over the past 50 years- way higher than just about any place out there. And that's only those that have been accused of abuse. Add in those that have flown under the radar and those that have been humping a steady boyfriend rather than the altar boys and we're looking at a seminary which is a real homo haven.

Doesn't look good at all for Fushek, I'm afraid.

[kstewskis]

His line was that being comfortable with each other's bodies was a way to get comfortable with God, and one way to learn vulnerability with God was to be physically vulnerable with each other."

...from his lips to satan's ears....

[murphE]

It's disgusting.