Bishop Warns Catholics To Avoid Life Teen Founder's Renegade Services

Here's the story: Bishop warns Catholics to avoid services started by Life Teen founder

Here's a quote:

A Jan. 3 statement posted on the Web sites of the diocese and St. Timothy Parish said the diocese "wishes to express its grave concern for Catholics who may be misled or confused by the actions of Dale Fushek and Mark Dippre." Dippre is a former associate pastor of St. Timothy who left public ministry in 2002 and later married.

The diocesan statement described Dippre as "a priest not in good standing" and said both men's 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," it continued.

The diocesan statement encouraged 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."

The Web site of the Praise and Worship Center says organizers do not encourage people to either join or leave any particular church or denomination. The center "is not a 'new religion,'" it says, "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."

The center's mission statement calls for building a community through "worship of God, breaking open the word, total acceptance of each person and learning to love more deeply," to supplement the faith journey of its members.

In a note on the Web site, signed by "Dale," Msgr. Fushek said the goal of the center is to create the type of spiritual renewal experience found at the "tent revivals" he held as a pastor.

"First, we desire to create a gathering of people, of different faiths and backgrounds, in order to create community," he wrote. "Secondly, we desire to create an environment where lively prayer and music ignites our hearts and make us all more passionate for God."

Msgr. Fushek did not respond to Catholic News Service efforts to interview him.

Jim Dwyer, spokesman for the Phoenix Diocese, told CNS that although Msgr. Fushek, a former vicar general of the diocese, has said he resigned from the priesthood in November "it's not that simple. You don't just resign."

Dwyer said, as far as he knows, the process has not begun for Msgr. Fushek to be laicized, which involves an appeal to the Vatican. Dippre has never been formally laicized, Dwyer said, but the diocese considers him "functionally laicized" because he has not been in ministry and has had no ties to the diocese for several years.

But, according to Dwyer, people are confused about Msgr. Fushek's status which prompted the diocese's statement. When the Praise and Worship Center's activities were announced, the diocese neither encouraged nor discouraged people from participating, he said.

But after the first service, the diocese received calls from people who still consider Msgr. Fushek a priest in good standing and asked whether they should participate, he said.

Another problem is that it's unclear what the plans are for the Praise and Worship Center, Dwyer said. "In a sense, it's competing with the Catholic Church. If they're not trying to draw people away, why are they trying to get people to contribute to building up something?"

Dwyer said he knew nothing about reports that employees of St. Timothy Parish were told their jobs were at risk if they participate in the Praise and Worship Center.

"I'm not aware of any direct threats," Dwyer said. "But I'd certainly consider it poor judgment if you're supportive of someone who's being disobedient to the bishop."

You will know them by their fruits.

See also:

"Father Dale" Fallout: Life Teen Founder Indicted For Sexual Misconduct With Young Men Is At Odds With His Diocese

Indicted Life Teen Founder Starts Non-Denominational "Worship Center"

Any thoughts?

Comments

[Joe]

Lifeteen and disobedience, they kind of go hand in hand. Whether indirectly or directly in this case.

[Lisa Noonan]

I wonder if Bp Olmsted is just allowing Fushek to hang himself?

There was an op-ed piece at the end of last week by one of his supporters, and the writer said something about how Fushek and his buddy Dippre didn't want to play the "game" anymore (IIRC). "Game"?! The priesthood is not a "game"!!

His little flock is following the wrong man. How sad. They need to remember that it's the Man on the Cross they need to pay attention to, not to the ego of a wayward priest.

I'll scan it in if you'd like, as it's not on the azcentral site. Let me know.

--L

[Patricia Gonzalez]

I know we're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but this man looks like a thug. I can't understand how people can be drawn to someone who is so obviously "Off". Eew.

[Jim C.]

"Rev." Fushek should be considered a dangerous pedofile, which he likely is, until proven innocent, not innocent till proven guilty. What are people thinking, exposing their children and themselves to this potential monster. 98% of priests charged with sexual abuse are ultimatley proven guilty. Why take a chance with "Rev." Fushek? My two sons were sexually abused by "Rev." Donald J. McGuire, S.J. of Chicago. McGuire had eerily similar personality traits of Fushek. Don't let Fushek's charismatic style fool you, as McGuire's did us.

[mamba]

I have seen the amazing fruits of the Life Teen program. I know so many young adults and teens who have come to know Christ in a deeper way through its offerings. The crux is the Mass, of course and LT was endorsed by JPII.

However, this is incredibly sad. Yes, Rev. Dale is a wonderful public speaker but at what cost are people willing to hear him? He is in blatant opposition to the Bishop and is awaiting trial. How can people be so willing to be led astray?