By Yelena Galibov
East Valley Tribune
January 6, 2008
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/106022
His East Valley parishioners are looking to Dale Fushek for spiritual leadership on Sundays and turning the other cheek on the multiple sex-related charges he faces.
Fushek, 55, faces one count of assault, five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and one count of indecent exposure for allegedly engaging in sexual discussions during teen confession and exposing himself in a hot tub.
Many disregarded those allegations and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix's instruction to boycott Fushek's new Praise and Worship Center by attending the third service at the Mesa Convention Center on Sunday.
"I am spiritually fed here, so I will continue to come," said Lucy Doak, of Tempe, a member of St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Mesa where Fushek once served as pastor.
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| Hundreds of people make their way to the Mesa Convention Center where the Praise and Worship Center held Sunday service. Photo by Julio Jimenez |
Doak looks to Fushek's guidance as a complement to her Catholic faith.
Dot Brannon, of Gilbert, has attended all of Fushek's services to date, and has no plans of leaving St. Timothy's.
"I have to have my Eucharist, so I go on Saturday night and I come here on Sunday," she said.
Praise and Worship Center spokesman Brad Kuluris of Chandler said, "I attend Mass because that's something that's very special to me as a Catholic, and I also attend this because it brings to life my faith."
Some people even transferred to Fushek's new worship center.
Sheila Scanlan, of Mesa, a former parishioner of St. Timothy's, has joined the Worship Center with her family.
"Father Dale speaks God's message to us. It's very spirit-oriented, and that's why we're here, because it's a faith-based community," Scanlan said.
Kuluris said the new worship center is not about St. Timothy's or any one particular group, but rather an attempt at achieving an alternative multi-denominational worship service.
Fushek and his friend, former priest Mark Dippre, focused their first nonholiday morning service on the theme of loving one another.
The service was filled with adults and children singing songs such as "Testify to Love" with their loved ones nearby.
Sheila's Scanlan's daughter, Emily, said the new services make her feel welcomed and comfortable. "I like it a lot because there's a great community here," she said.
In order to accommodate the growing crowd, the service relocated to a larger room within the Mesa Community Center.
Kuluris said attendance was generally similar to the 700 estimated at the Dec. 23 service.
Fushek announced plans to have a permanent site for the Praise and Worship Center in the future, but he expects to start counseling and holding bible studies even sooner.
In keeping with the theme of the morning, Dippre joked about loving Fushek no matter how many times he appears in the media.
Kuluris said Fushek's "deep love for people" keeps him preaching despite the multiple sexual allegations.
Fushek joined St. Timothy's in 1983, where he founded a teen program called Life Teen, which has since gained an international following.
Fushek is also credited with organizing Pope John Paul II's visit to Arizona in 1987 and Mother Teresa's visit in 1989.
In 2002, Fushek was anointed with the honorary title of Monsignor.
Since then, several sexual-related allegations against Fushek emerged.
Consequently, Fushek was placed on administrative leave from his position at St. Timothy's in 2004 and resigned as pastor in 2005.
Fushek was arrested in November of 2006 and pleaded innocent to 10 counts of sexual misconduct.
He still faces seven counts of sex-related charges.
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