LifeTeen founder placed on leave...

[cool2bCatholic]

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1229fushek-leave-ON.html#
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1230priest30.html#
Please pray for Msgr Dale and all involved.
God bless you and Pax Christi
Angela

EDIT:Here's another article http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1230parishoners30.html
EDIT2:LifeTeen official press release:
http://www.lifeteen.com/pressrelease.asp

 

[InnerPhyre]

Not more of this....:: This quote makes me a bit suspicious "An allegation was brought to us by an attorney whose client claims a repressed memory involving Msgr. Dale Fushek," I sincerely hope this is all untrue and that the priest can be exonerated quickly. If the allegations are true, God have mercy.

 

[Veritas]

Another word for "repressed memory" is false memory. The Psychologists who do this should be sued for malpractice. The vast majority of people who have been sexually molested or raped can't forget. It is the memories that haunt them day in and day out. What a crock. These poor priests are as much victim's of the scandal as anybody else.

 

[stray bullet]

Does the Church counter-sue for false allegations or is that something they can't in good conscience or legally do?

Seems to me they need to start going after people making false charges in the hope of making some money... otherwise this will keep going on and on.

 

[Paul S]

I think the Church probably could have won a lot of the suits, but chose to settle to give some peace to the real victims. Legally, they could sue for false allegations, but I don't think the Church wants to get into that, since it would make them look even worse to the public.

 

[FullyMT]

This is just depressing.
Praying for Msgr Dale and those who have accused him.

 

[Spence06]

Praying for Truth and all families involved

 

[Wiffey]

I am always very suspicious of "repressed memories". After working for years as a psychiatric nurse with clients with PTSD, I can tell you that most people DO have some conscious recollection of abuse. I am not claiming that there aren't folks who block it out, just that memory is a subjective thing and memories DO change over time. Memories that have not been consistent are the type that are the LEAST reliable. I hate to see any person's life destroyed by an accusation that is so heinous, with no substantiating evidence. There ARE hypnotists and quacks out there who prey on the vulnerable and who have made an industry out of "recovered memories".

Mind you, there are plenty of REAL victims out there. I do not wish to imply in any way that abuse does not exist. Sadly, it does. But there seems to be an anti-priest hysteria going on that is inappropriate in its scope. It casts suspicion on those who are dedicated to serving God, and is a tragedy. As a society we are now all too ready to believe the worst about our clergy.

May God bless and protect and heal all those real victims and also all of those hardworking and faithful priests who have been unfairly accused.

 

[Sophia121]

There is an article at Survivorsfirst dot org backslash pedmo dot html. The system is not letting me link to it directly.

That site has an article that discusses the "MO", or way of operating (modus operandi=MO) of adults who seek out younger people for attention. It does not always have to involve physical contact, as the Fr. Dale article mentioned. It's a long article, but worth reading. Adults who have contact with and responsibility for children and teenagers are supposed to act like adults--not like they're teenagers themselves.

If they create "specialness", as the article states, if they behave as though they're teens themselves, then there is cause for concern. They may be in their 30s, 40s, or 50s, but act like teens themselves: prankish behaviors, joking, wrestling, etc. At the same time, they treat the younger person as if he or she were an adult himself. Of course teens love this kind of thing! The profile of this kind of personality is that they are very "popular" with the teens and younger kids. Michael Jackson was popular, too.

These kinds of behaviors enable the adult to gain the trust and friendship of the younger person. Often the would-be molester isn't fully aware of his own inner psychology and drives, and so they appear to the world as a "good person" who's involved in "good causes." (summarizing from the article). They also tend to be very friendly with the teen's family, creating more "trust." The article has a lot more info, these are just some highlights from it.

The article gives a good description of the "profile" of a potentially dangerous personality. Sometimes these men just don't realize what they are doing or why they are doing it, and they think they're doing good for kids. But they don't understand how much it can confuse and damage the kids and teens. Sometimes the abuse is psychological and not physical, but it's still damage. Teens and parents should read this article!

May our Lord protect our children from harm.

 

[Irenaeus]

Sophia,

That is quite interesting. I have met a few of these types in Protestant Churches (not to say they are the only ones who have these types of people).

I would trust a strong, mature, self-possessed person more than someone who wanted to "be friends" with my kids.

...Personally.

 

[Sophia121]

Irenaeus,

You're right: the Catholic Church does not have a monopoly on this type of person. This type can be found in many places: Scout troops, sports teams, teachers in public schools, Protestant churches, etc... anywhere kids are to be found. It is scary, but knowledge is safety. I think in a lot of cases the abuser doesn't really know what's going on in his own mind... he really believes that he just "loves kids" and is "good with them." But educational law states that adults (teachers, youth ministers, scout leaders, etc) in positions of responsibility are in "loco parentis," "in the place of the parents" when they are supervising kids, and so they should be acting like responsible surrogate parents--not like "buddies" or "one of the guys/girls." Teens and kids need real friends in their own age group, and so do adults.

 

[Irenaeus]

Sophia;

The best relationships I have had with adults are not when they treat me like an adult, but where I am truly a pupil (like in school) a team player (like when I play in soccer) or a disciple (like in Church). True, we can laugh, and joke, and be playful, but it is mature.

My Latin teacher is a good example. He isn't a Christian, but a man of a very temperate mindset, and so the jokes we usually have are somewhat sophisticated (we make jokes in Spanish on the back of tests and quizzes, on which I draw humorous stories). Yet him and I exchange books (and notes) on topics like Socialism and Hellenism and Christianity. In fact, a book I particularly enjoyed he gave to me free, and told me where I can get great used book deals around the country. Yet even with this kindness and communication we have, there isn't a certain "familiarity," I guess you could call it.

I know other people, women and men, who are of the type I believe your article describes. They tend to be 'overly open', so to speak...they are constantly seeking tactile affection, or give it; I'm not saying the occaisional tap on the shoulder, which can be encouraging, but doing such things constantly. There is little reserve with such people, and little depth in their personalities. They make themselves transparent. This simplicity is not the holy simplicity of the gospels, but instead, the mark of a soul that makes itself 100 miles wide and one inch deep.

Holy simplicity in speech and character is without duplicity, but yet is usually accompanied by holy wisdom and prudence; and is usually accompanied by a healthy amount of silence. I have some dear friends who fit that mold; we may not see each other for months at a time, but when we get together, we start again where we left off. Sometimes not a word need be spoken.

One such friend, a Christian Southern Baptist woman in her late forties, may not get in contact with me (and I her) for months or weeks, and yet her and her husband (a Catholic) are always kind to me and are great mentors and fervent brothers and sisters, and they always teach me something new. Yet there isn't that wishy-washy over-familiarity which characterises more the friendships of gossiping teenage girls, and brawling teenage guys, rather than the homely and chaste love in conversations of two sisters or brothers who have a true spiritual bond in Christ.

As much as these individuals you mention may entertain, they hardly edify. I have seen youth groups run by such as they, and those whom they "instruct" become frivolous and undisciplined.

But I have also seen groups and organizations led by sober minded and self-possessed individuals, who, if they are men and women of prayer, convey a sense of benign wisdom and a certainpatriarchal/matriarchal nature which sets at ease many parents and edifies all to whom they speak, carrying a peace in them which stills the seas of a restless heart. Their interest is not their entertainment, but the spiritual good of their affiliates (if they be religious) or toward another laudable good (like training for a sport, or a valid intellectual pursuit). These will not fail to bring the true good to those with whom they communicate their unfeigned virtues; making men and women out of children, rather than keeping them in a perpetual childhood. They are true nurturers, making sages rather than buffoons.

That is all I have to say, because I have experienced this much in my short time of life.

 

[Sophia121]

Insightful post. Naturally, a sense of humor isn't in itself a bad or dangerous thing, not at all! I think you describe the difference rightly when you mention a "matriarchial/patriarchial" bearing. Very good post.

 

[bigsierra]

Welcome to OBOB, Sophia.

I used the word "insightful," to describe his post also.

 

[Sophia121]

Yes, he really covered all the bases, and put a personal and genuine face on what the article was talking about.

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

There is an article at Survivorsfirst dot org backslash pedmo dot html. The system is not letting me link to it directly.

That site has an article that discusses the "MO", or way of operating (modus operandi=MO) of adults who seek out younger people for attention. It does not always have to involve physical contact, as the Fr. Dale article mentioned. It's a long article, but worth reading. Adults who have contact with and responsibility for children and teenagers are supposed to act like adults--not like they're teenagers themselves.

If they create "specialness", as the article states, if they behave as though they're teens themselves, then there is cause for concern. They may be in their 30s, 40s, or 50s, but act like teens themselves: prankish behaviors, joking, wrestling, etc. At the same time, they treat the younger person as if he or she were an adult himself. Of course teens love this kind of thing! The profile of this kind of personality is that they are very "popular" with the teens and younger kids. Michael Jackson was popular, too.

These kinds of behaviors enable the adult to gain the trust and friendship of the younger person. Often the would-be molester isn't fully aware of his own inner psychology and drives, and so they appear to the world as a "good person" who's involved in "good causes." (summarizing from the article). They also tend to be very friendly with the teen's family, creating more "trust." The article has a lot more info, these are just some highlights from it.

The article gives a good description of the "profile" of a potentially dangerous personality. Sometimes these men just don't realize what they are doing or why they are doing it, and they think they're doing good for kids. But they don't understand how much it can confuse and damage the kids and teens. Sometimes the abuse is psychological and not physical, but it's still damage. Teens and parents should read this article!

May our Lord protect our children from harm.

I personally know Msgr. Dale and this DOES NOTdescribe him. The reason why people love him is because he is an awesome preacher and a hardworker. He gets things done. He is not immature, nor does he spend much time with the teens. The only time he is with teens is for ministry. The man is the hardest working man I know and he doesn't have any free time.

The way I would describe his view of teens is the following. He sees teens as having potential, future leaders of the Church and he believes that if given a forum where they can love the Church and be given an opportunity to grow and overcome burdens with the grace of God then the future of the Church is a bright future indeed.

And it is working, I am an example of a person who Msgr. Dale and LifeTeen brought into the fold of the Church and gave me resources to grow. Sixty percent of the people I know at Franciscan University come from Lifeteen parishes and they will be future beacons of light for the Church.

The fact of the matter is that God is working through Msgr. Dale. I have seen it personally. The man in no way exhibits questionable behavior and I have spent much time with him as I used to be quite active in the Lifeteen program. Also both of my girlfriend's parents were on the parish council at the Msgr. Dale's parish and they also have not seen any suspicious behavior.

By the way your description above does match a person I knew that pleaded guilty to sexual improprieties, but it does not describe Msgr. Dale.

 

[Irenaeus]

By no means was I implying that Fr. Dale by any means fit the profile of what Sophia posted...only I have known such people.

 

[Sophia121]

Yes, me too. I don't know a thing about Msgr. Doyle or the LifeTeen, and none of my remarks were directed at him at all. The subject of abuse arose once again, however, and I took that opportunity to post a summary of an article that profiles abusive personalities. Again, I'd like to emphasize that abuse is not always only physical, but can be psychological as well, and that the psychological "groundwork" (called "grooming") is often a prelude to actual physical contact. It is a "ripening" process. First trust and loyalty are gained, then psychological intimacy, and finally, the physical contacts are initiated. It does not happen overnight, but by the time it does happen, the victim is so confused and so "loyal" to the abuser that he or she will not come forward and tell someone what has happened. That's the frightening thing about abuse. And it is very hard for anyone else to catch, because of course the physical contacts will not happen in the public eye.

In order to guard against future abuses, I think it wise for us to educate ourselves about the patterns of behavior that psychologists have identified as belonging to the abusive personality type.

Given the particulars of the Doyle case, it seems to me that either the accuser is engaging in a vicious lie, or else something atrocious did occur. The nature of the accusation does not seem to allow for any gray area. Let us pray for a just and peaceful outcome for all concerned parties.

 

[Sophia121]

Does anyone have any new information on this case?

 

[Xpycoctomos]

Another word for "repressed memory" is false memory. The Psychologists who do this should be sued for malpractice. The vast majority of people who have been sexually molested or raped can't forget. It is the memories that haunt them day in and day out. What a crock. These poor priests are as much victim's of the scandal as anybody else.

What you are saying MIGHT be true in this case but none of us know that and that fact is that this can happen. It's a defense mechanism that some people's minds create, but it comes out sooner or later. I'm not saying that this person is telling the truth... but you and I have no idea. Imagine if this did really happen but everyone is saying she's full of it. Imagine (if this is true) how scary this must be for her and tramatic... and on top of it the man is the founder of TeenLife.

I'm gonna back off and make no judgements here. There's just too much I'll never know.