Catholic Church excommunicates 2 Mesa (Arizona)priests

East Valley Tribune ^ | 12/15/08 | Lawn Griffiths

[el_chupacabra]

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 related to sexual misconduct across almost a decade while he led the Life Teen program.

The Diocese of Phoenix Monday made public the bishop’s order. The statement, posted on the diocesan Web site (diocesephoenix.org), said, “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.”

The statement said the two men had “consistently refused to comply with explicit directions by Bishop Olmsted to discontinue engaging in public ministry.”

The two priests were informed by letter a week ago of the bishop’s action and given a week to respond before the diocese would make it public, said Jim Dwyer, diocesan spokesman. He said, for more than a year, the bishop has sought reconciliation with the two men in asking them to abandon the ministry that regularly draws 200 to 300 each Sunday to the services. Fushek and Dippre speak each Sunday and have repeatedly stated it is not to be construed as “Catholic” in any way.

Dwyer, on Monday, said the action was taken in consultation with the Vatican.

“As excommunicated priests, Fushek and Dippre cannot participate in the celebration of the sacrifice of the Holy Eucharist or in any other ceremonies of worship,” the decree said. “They are also prohibited from celebrating or receiving any of the sacraments.” They will also forfeit the “benefits of dignity, office or any function they previously acquired in the Catholic Church.” That would include Fushek’s honorary title of “monsignor.”

The degree said the bishop continues to express his “grave concern for Catholics who may be misled or confused by the actions” of the two clergymen.

Dwyer said the pensions of Fushek and Dippre are not affected because those are legal issues, and he said the excommunication does not take away the title of priest from the two pastors, although such a process may already have been initiated.

Fushek is awaiting trial in San Tan Justice of the Peace Court in Chandler on seven misdemeanor counts involving five alleged victims (three counts were dropped, two because one man who brought a complaint has died). Early this year, Olmsted cut off the salary that Fushek had been paid while awaiting resolution of the legal charges against him. The bishop said he took that action because of Fushek’s defiance of his orders.

[el_chupacabra]

New information. This has been a long time coming.

[Gman]

This not so much about the RC church as it is about two narcissistic men that could not respect the authority of their Bishop or control their libidos...

Good-bye to bad priests...

[TASMANIANRED]

Sounds well deserved.

[annalex]

the excommunication does not take away the title of priest from the two pastors, although such a process may already have been initiated

Title as a mode of address, perhaps, but surely the mark of the priesthood is eternal and indelible?

[CedarDave]

I wish the Church would excommunicate those politicians who support abortion along with those priests who support abortion or give Communion to said politicians knowing their views.

[Alex Murphy]

The Diocese of Phoenix Monday made public the bishop’s order. The statement, posted on the diocesan Web site (diocesephoenix.org), said, “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.”

Ping to read later. Note the code phrase "ecclesial community":

According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called "Churches" in the proper sense.

[el_chupacabra]

It is really very, very sad. It seems that many people were attracted to Fushek’s ministry not because of the Sacraments, but because of Fushek himself.

We’re now seeing the fallout from personality-driven theology. It really is heartbreaking. Hopefully, the Diocese action here will discourage many from continuing to attend the “Praise and Worship Center”.

[NTHockey]

Now, if we could only get some public excommunications for the CINOs (Catholics in name only), i.e. Kennedy, Pelosi, Biden, Kerry, etc.

[353FMG]

I think that it will happen soon after what has taken place during the recent election. It is time for the Church to stand up and deliver if they expect the faithful to do the same.

[Salvation]

Olmstead is one of the good bishops. Blessings to him.

[fatima]

What a fall Dale Fushek has taken.

[realdifferent1]

...It is time for the Church to stand up and deliver if they expect the faithful to do the same.

And as soon as the new administration threatens to revoke their tax status, we'll see just how faithful the leadership is.

[Salvation]

Here is a list of bishops that stood up against Obama, Pelosi, Biden, Daschle, Kennedy, Pelosi, Kerry, et al. It's not a complete list so if your bishop isn't listed I would encourage them to join ranks in opposing FICA.

Over 100 Bishops Have Spoken Out on Priority of Life Issues
Posted on October 28, 2008, 11:59 AM | Deal W. Hudson

The list of U. S. bishops who have spoken out on the priority of the life issues in this election is now over 100. The list now contains 70 individual bishops and three joint statements.

I would like to continue updating this list until the day of the election. I have tried to incorporate all the comments thus far. If I dd not get them all, I apologize. (For a few of the suggestions, I could not find a suitable link.)

Please continue using the comments section to let us know what bishop is not on this list who should be. This would include any bishop who has individually, or jointly, published a statement about this election pointing out the primacy of the life issues.

Thank you for your help.

1. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver

2. Bishop James Conley, auxiliary of Denver

3. Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C.

4. Justin Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities

5. Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, chairman of the Committee on Doctrine

6. Edward Cardinal Egan of New York

7. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo

8. Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh

9. Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs

10. Archbishop Jose Gomez of San Antonio

11. Bishop Oscar Cantu, auxiliary of San Antonio

12. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre

13. Bishop Edward Slattery of Tulsa

14. Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas

15. Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin

16. Sean Cardinal O'Malley of Boston

17. Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando

18. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul/Minneapolis

19. Francis Cardinal George of Chicago, President of the USCCB

20. Bishop Robert Vasa of Baker

21. Bishop Jerome Listecki of La Crosse

22. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland

23. Bishop Ralph Nickless of Sioux City

24. Archbishop George Niederauer of San Francisco

25. Bishop Glen Provost of Lake Charles, LA

26. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn

27. Bishop Joseph F. Martino of Scranton

28. Archbishop Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura

30. Bishop Peter J. Jugis of Charlotte

31. Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh

32. Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, KS

33. Bishop Robert Finn of Kansas City-St. Joseph, MO

34. Bishop Robert C. Morlino of Madison, WS
35. Bishop Ronald Gilmore of Dodge City, KS
36. Bishop Paul Coakley of Salina, KS
37. Bishop Michael Jackels of Wichita
38. Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of Palm Beach
39. Bishop Kevin W. Vann of Fort Worth

40. Bishop Rene H. Gracida, retired, of Corpus Christi

41. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of Houston

42. Bishop Paul S. Loverde of Arlington

43. Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo of Richmond

44. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Center

45. Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester

46. Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Patterson

47. Bishop Robert Herrmann of St. Louis

48. Archbishop Edwin O'Brien of Baltimore

49. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix

50. Bishop Thomas D. Doran of Rockford

51. Bishop Joseph A. Galante of Camden

52. Bishop Robert J. Baker of Birmingham

53. Archbishop Alexander J. Brunett of Seattle

54. Bishop J. Peter Sartain of Joliet

55. Bishop John M. Smith of Trenton

56. Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing

57. Bishop Leonard R. Blair of Toledo

58. Bishop Frances J. Dewane of Venice

59. Bishop W. Frances Malooly of Wilmington

60. Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison

61. Bishop John Yanta , retired, of Amarillo

62. Bishop James V. Johnston of Springfield-Cape Girardeau

63. Archbishop John Vlazny of Portland

64. Bishop Blase J. Cupich of Rapid City

65. Bishop Lawrence Brandt of Greensburg

66. Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinatti

67. Bishop Larry Silva of Honolulu

68. Bishop Paul Swain of Sioux Falls

69. Bishop Michael J. Sheehan of Santa Fe

70. Bishop Eusebius Beltran of Oklahoma City

71. Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Harrisburg

72-94. Joint Statement by the bishops of New York State (22 bishops)

95-111. Joint Statement by the bishops of Pennsylvania (16 bishops)

112-116. Joint Statement by the bishops of Kansas (4 bishops)

117-126. Joint Statement by the bishops of Florida (9 bishops)

Added by me

 

127. Bishop Tobin -- http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=30333 ^

 

128. Archbishop Wilton Gregory  georgiabulletin.org ...

 

129. Archbishop Dolan http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/32482989.html.

 

130. Archbishop Elden Curtiss Omaha http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2123119/posts?page=1

 

131. Bishop Carlson's of Michigan pastoral letter in full, go to:
http://www.saginaw.org/images/election-statement_carlson_102...

 

[Wiseghy]

25 years ago, it was said that the Diocese of Phoenix what where priests in trouble (at least in the Western States)went to be “rehabilitated”.

The Bishop at the time would take them, and supposedly, keep an eye on them.

[mockingbyrd]

nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey hey hey goodbye!

[Tax-chick]

I’m sure they’re just precious ...

Erm. I don’t like to say this is good news, because it’s bad that such disturbed people were ever ordained. But it’s necessary and helpful at this point officially to affirm their departure from the Catholic Faith.

[Iscool]

It is really very, very sad. It seems that many people were attracted to Fushek’s ministry not because of the Sacraments, but because of Fushek himself.<.i>

Did these guys start a homosexual church??? A praise and worship center??? And they were focusing on themselves??? I doubt it...Their focus was/is bringing people to Jesus...That's what happens when you get saved...You can't keep your mouth shut about Jesus...

The priests obviously gave the finger to the Catholic church...They can't be fired if they already quit...

[bronxville]

By the time they excommunicate bad priests, their followers/congregation, are already trapped in apostasy, and what’s worse, they don’t even know they’ve actually lost their faith.

PS: I wish there was some way the Church could trademark the name Catholic.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Only two excommunicated?

A good start. Not enough of one, but a good start.

[secret garden]

It sounds as though this should hve been done a long time ago but, if I understand correctly, the process is complicated and time-consuming.