Hundreds Remain Loyal to Fushek, by Jim Walsh, The Arizona Republic, January 6, 2008

Hundreds Remain Loyal to Fushek

By Jim Walsh
The Arizona Republic
January 6, 2008

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0106priest0106.html

The Diocese of Phoenix is urging Catholics not to attend a suspended priest's non-denominational services, but Dale Fushek's magnetism keeps filling the Mesa Convention Center while he awaits trial on misdemeanor sex charges.

The former longtime pastor of St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Mesa, Fushek will hold his latest service today at the Praise and Worship Center at 9:30 a.m. at the Mesa Convention Center. His last service on Dec. 23 drew an estimated 700 people and his first service on Thanksgiving drew about 500.

"We're actually encouraging Catholics to refrain from attending. We would hope that they don't," said Jim Dwyer, a spokesman for the diocese. "I think most leaders in the church would say your devotion should be to Christ, not an individual leader."

Dale Fushek (center) greets his cousin, Jill Palus (left), and aunt, Gayle Colin.
Photo by Dana Felthauser

But Brad Kuluris, a Catholic and a spokesman for the Praise and Worship Center, said many of the people attending the services knew Fushek when he was at St. Timothy's.

"I think people are looking for a style of preaching that's new and invigorating," Kuluris said. "You've seen these mega churches. People are looking for preaching that brings new life to ancient ideas."

The Diocese considers Fushek "a disobedient priest" on administrative leave, while Fushek said after the December service that he resigned from the church the day before Thanksgiving.

"It's not that simple," Dwyer said. "This is not a job. It's a vocation. It's a way of life."

He said Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted eventually would decide whether to initiate church proceedings against Fushek that could strip him of his priesthood, with the ultimate decision made by the Vatican.

Although Fushek is still being paid a stipend by the diocese, "that issue is undergoing serious examination right now," Dwyer said.

But Fred Bruno, who helped organize the Praise and Worship Center, said, "I think the diocese should butt out for real. Dale would not be preaching if we did not hire him to preach."

The December service had few similarities to a Catholic Mass, featuring sermons by Fushek and Mark Dippre, who left the priesthood and got married.

"I think people have different gifts," Kuluris said. "I think Dale and Mark have a gift to bring Scripture and the gospel to life for us."

He said the services are drawing large crowds despite a lack of advertising and news stories noting the charges pending against Fushek.

Forgiveness is an essential part of Christian belief, Kuluris said.

Many of those in attendance asked not be quoted by name. Some said they wanted to support an old friend, while others said they missed Fushek's charismatic preaching while at St. Timothy's.

After the previous service, the diocese criticized Fushek for violating the terms of his suspension, which barred him from acting as a priest or engaging in any form of public ministry.

Fushek was suspended in December 2004 when he was accused in a civil suit of performing a sex act on himself and watching as another priest sexually abused a teenage boy in 1985. The case was dismissed when the diocese reached a $100,000 settlement with the victim.

Fushek was accused a year later of misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and indecent exposure stemming from his relationships with five teenage boys between 1984 and 1993.

The case stalled amid a series of pre-trial appeals filed by Fushek's attorney, Thomas Hoidal, who is seeking a jury trial on all charges. The Arizona Supreme Court heard the appeal in December but has not issued an opinion.

Supporters of Fushek solicited donations for his defense on a Web site.

"I think the whole thing is a frame-up," Bruno said. "Even if he is guilty, I would let him preach to me. He is truly a man of God."

Others disagreed.

"My only thoughts are the hypocrisy involved with him," Jan Shepardson wrote in an e-mail, saying that Fushek filled in for the Rev. Wilputte "Lan" Sherwood, a Chandler priest who was sentenced in 1993 to 10 years in prison for attempted sexual conduct with a minor. "I never hear Dale's name mentioned that I don't think back to that time, and it still raises the (hair) on the back of my neck."