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  Diocese: Fushek's Service Violated Directives

By Lawn Griffiths
East Valley Tribune
November 27, 2007

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/102851

The Rev. Dale Fushek, former pastor of St. Timothy's Catholic Community in Mesa, violated terms of the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, when he conducted a Thanksgiving Day service at the Mesa Marriott at the Mesa Convention Center, the bishop's office said Tuesday.

Fushek, 55, who has been indicted on seven misdemeanor counts related to inappropriate sexual behavior with teens from 1984 to 1994, "conducted a praise and worship service in opposition to directives given to him to cease all public and sacred ministries," the statement read.

Fushek was put on administrative leave in December 2004 and is awaiting a date to make arguments before the Arizona Supreme Court for a jury trial, rather than have his case heard by a judge.

About 550 attended the kickoff service for The Praise and Worship Center, a nondenominational ministry co-founded with a former colleague of his at St. Timothy's, Mark Dippre.

The diocese statement said Dippre "left public priestly ministry" to marry and "is not a priest in good standing." The diocese said the service "was not Catholic nor was it endorsed by the Catholic Church." Fushek has said the new ministry can be "supplemental" to whatever other faith life activities people may be engaged in.

 
 

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