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	Catholic Leader Steps Down; Had Led Life Teen Youth Group He Was Subject of '05 Lawsuit in Sexual-Misconduct Case By Michael Clancy The Arizona Republic May 6, 2006 http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0506lifeteen0506.html The president of a Catholic youth ministry, facing a civil lawsuit in a sexual misconduct case, has stepped down after 21 years on the job. Phil Baniewicz of Mesa helped found the Life Teen ministry with Monsignor Dale Fushek in 1985. The Life Teen program is used in 950 Catholic parishes worldwide. In a lawsuit filed in January 2005, Baniewicz was accused of threatening and sexually abusing William J. Cesolini of Phoenix. The lawsuit also accuses Fushek of masturbating as he watched another priest abuse Cesolini. Fushek was suspended in December 2004 when an attorney for Cesolini brought the matter to the attention of Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted. Defendants also included the Phoenix Diocese; Olmsted; Bishop Thomas J. O'Brien, former diocesan leader; Life Teen; and Mark Lehman, a former priest who served 10 years in prison for molesting students at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School in Phoenix. Frank Verderame, Cesolini's attorney, said Life Teen recently was dropped from the lawsuit. He declined to comment when asked whether Baniewicz's resignation was tied to the case. Clarissa Gonzalez, a Life Teen spokeswoman, said the decision had nothing to do with the lawsuit. Randy Raus of Atlanta, vice president of parish ministries for the organization, will take over temporarily. He said Baniewicz believes God is leading him to different things. He also denied any relationship between the lawsuit and Baniewicz's resignation. Baniewicz was not available for comment.
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