Father Dale Fushek
Diocese of Phoenix
Ordained: 1978
Suspended: 2005
Assigned as Follows:
- 1978-1983 St. Jermoe’s (Phoenix, AZ)
- 1981-1990 Diocesan Ministry of Christian Worship (Phoenix, AZ)
- 1983-2005 St. Timothy’s (Mesa, AZ)
- 2000-2004 Vicar general
- 2005-2008 On Leave
Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Dale Fushek:
Father Dale Fushek founded the Life Teen movement in 1985 and then went on to become Vicar General of the Phoenix Diocese.
In 1995, he was accused of sexual harassment of Life Teen staff member and the Diocese of Phoenix later settled a civil suit brought by the victim. He remained Vicar General of the Diocese until 2004.
In January 2005, a civil suit was filed against the Diocese of Phoenix alleging that Fushek gave a child alcohol and then enabled another priest to molest the teen in front of him.
That same year, Fushek was criminally charged with ten counts of misconduct relating to his own sexual abuse of teenage boys. He later pled guilty to lesser charges, paying a small fine and receiving 364 days probation.
Fushek left the Catholic priesthood and started a non-denominational worship center in 2007 with another disgraced priest. Fushek was excommunicated by the Church in 2008 due to his association with the new church, not the allegations of sexual misconduct. He was formally laicized by the Vatican in 2010.
Fushek is the Executive Director of the Praise and Worship Center in Chandler, Arizona as of today. He continues to call himself “Father” despite being removed from the priesthood. His online profile on the church’s website mentions nothing about the number of allegations of sexual misconduct or his criminal convictions.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in Arizona, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix now have legal options to recover damages due to a change in Arizona laws. Contact us toll-free at 888-283-9922 or email us at [email protected] today.