Most of you probably missed it – and I did, too. On Sunday, Monsignor Dale Fushek was a guest on the hour-long program, “The God Show,” on KTAR (92.3 FM). Its host, Pat McMahon, held a conversation with the controversial and indicted priest, waiting trial on sex-related misconduct charges. It likely conjured many appearances by Fushek over the decades on both “The God Show” and McMahon’s many kinds of talk programs over the years. Fushek was a McMahon regular, an engaging religious voice of authority on his shows.
Here’s how it was advanced on the station’s Web site: “The God Show - June 22, 2008: You may not have heard this cleric’s voice since he was accused of serious misconduct. Fr. Dale Fushek talks about his ministry outside the Catholic Church on Sunday morning on The God Show at 6:30 a.m.”
Fushek, who had risen to the No. 2 leadership spot in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, was suspended from Catholic ministry in December 2004 after complaints began to surface about his alleged conduct around male teens in the 1980s. First came a civil suit and then 10 misdemeanor charges, later trimmed to seven: five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, one of indecent exposure and one of assault.
One part of the legal machinations took his case to the Arizona Supreme Court over whether he should have a trial by judge or by jury have delayed his trial. He successfully argued a conviction could bring the label of a sex offender and jeopardize any minsterial work. He was granted a jury, and the trial is now set for Oct. 27 in the court of San Tan Justice of the Peace Sam Goodman in Chandler. It’s expected to take two weeks to come up with a jury and maybe three weeks to try Fushek.
Since last fall, Fushek has been defying Bishop Thomas Olmsted’s orders to not engage in public ministry, pending resolution of his misconduct cases. He and married former priest Mark Dippre teamed to launch the Praise and Worship Center, a Christian, non-denominational fellowship that meets Sundays at Fiesta Fountains, 1316 S. Longmore. The charismatic priest, who shepherded Mother Teresa’s visit in 1989 and oversaw planning and worship for Pope Paul II’s visit in 1987, capitalized on his popularity and following. Their services have drawn many from his nearly two decades of leading St. Timothy Catholic Community in Mesa, where Dippre had also been a priest with Fushek. The diocese has repeatedly called on faithful Catholics to forgo Masses for the new ministry.
One listener Sunday was Carl Mawhinney of Mesa, one of Fushek’s accusers. Mawhinney immediately complained by phone and e-mail to KTAR and McMahon’s decision to give Fushek a platform. In April, Mawhinney protested Fushek and Dippre relocating from the Mesa Convention Center to the Fountains, which is within a half-mile of his home. He accuses the priest of contributing to his delinquency when he was a minor or a period from December 1984 and December 1988 on the premises of St. Timothy’s, including numerous sexual related discussions.
In one communication to McMahon, Mawhinney noted how much he enjoyed watching McMahon in all his character roles in the long-running “Wallace and Ladmo” children’s TV show across 30 years. But he was offended that Fushek was called a “rock star” on “The God Show.” “You were a slap in the face to the families that have been victimized,” he said.
McMahon responded by e-mail, noting he didn’t intend for it to be “an ongoing analysis of the ‘Dale Diaries,’ but he defending the “rock star” reference because of “the most exceptional public attraction Dale had at St. Tim’s and to a lesser degree at his new ministry.” The talk show host further said that Fushek’s appearance was not about his guilt or innocence. “It was focused on a rebel priest defying authority … If you have been harmed by Dale or anyone, it breaks my heart,” McMahon said.
when is the diocese going to step up and do something about these two idiots?
This is miore than just about a so called rebel priest, it is about how the church treats people and jealousleys because someone is giving Jesus to hungry catholics!
1. What exactly do you think the diocese can do?
2. On just what basis to you refer to them as idiots. . . have you ever even been to a Praise and Worship service?
Families of the victims are suffering. I hope St. Timothy’s Parish can heal and the Diocese can go forward as a symbol of Christ and His Church. All victims involved in this criminal case need prayer and support as this trial comes to fruition.
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