Hmm... I Wonder If "Stairway To Heaven" Qualifies As A Hymn?
Ahhh, the fruits of LifeTeen!
From Catholic World News: (Emphasis mine)
LifeTeen founder defies suspension
Phoenix, Jan. 4, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Church leaders in Phoenix, Arizona, are discouraging Catholics from attending non-denominational services conducted by a suspended priest, the Arizona Republic reports.
Msgr. Dale Fushek, who has been suspended from public ministry by the Phoenix diocese, continues to lead services at the Mesa Convention Center, drawing several hundred participants, the newspaper reports. The flamboyant priest, who gained national prominence as the founder of the LifeTeen program, risks further disciplinary action by defying the terms of his suspension to preach at "Praise and Worship" services.
Fushek, who was once the vicar general of the Phoenix diocese, was suspended after he was accused of molesting a boy in his Arizona parish. Although the diocese settled the lawsuit based on that charge, Fushek still faces several other criminal charges involving sexual relations with teenage boys. A strong appeal to the base emotions, with little to no emphasis on the soul. Entertainment, at best. And bad entertainment at that.
Ahhh, the fruits of LifeTeen!
From Catholic World News: (Emphasis mine)
Phoenix, Jan. 4, 2008 (CWNews.com) - Church leaders in Phoenix, Arizona, are discouraging Catholics from attending non-denominational services conducted by a suspended priest, the Arizona Republic reports.
Msgr. Dale Fushek, who has been suspended from public ministry by the Phoenix diocese, continues to lead services at the Mesa Convention Center, drawing several hundred participants, the newspaper reports. The flamboyant priest, who gained national prominence as the founder of the LifeTeen program, risks further disciplinary action by defying the terms of his suspension to preach at "Praise and Worship" services.
Fushek, who was once the vicar general of the Phoenix diocese, was suspended after he was accused of molesting a boy in his Arizona parish. Although the diocese settled the lawsuit based on that charge, Fushek still faces several other criminal charges involving sexual relations with teenage boys.
posted by Kevin Whiteman at
8:34 AM
7 Comments:
I understand your criticisms of Life Teen, but I wish that you would realize that the program was implemented in a thousands different ways. If you want to know the fruit of Life Teen, take myself for an example - a now young adult, well educated in theology, a devout Catholic youth minister, seeking to bring teens to both understanding and conversion as Evangelii Nuntiandi tells us. I certainly don't defend Msgr. Fushek, but realize that the devil is behind his disobedience (and pray for him), not necessarily Life Teen itself. Unless the devil is now trying to win hearts for Christ, as mine was.
I've been following this guys shenanigans for a little while. It's the sort of thing that makes one think of racks, stakes and bonfires.
There is no evidence that he even thinks that what he has done is wrong. It's perfectly OK, because after all, God Loves Him.
I guess he didn't read the part about "Repent--for the Kingdom of god is at hand".
Creep, and Creepy. Especially the people who follow him there.
It's the problem with charismatic priests and cults of personalities.
Marie,
From everything I've seen, heard and read about LifeTeen, I get the distinct impression that you are the exception, not the norm.
LifeTeen emphasises the base emotions. It's happy-clappy, feel-good message is totally devoid of the realities of sin, confession, pennance, or reparaitions for sin.
The emphasis is "I'm-OK-You're-OK".
I think that IR's posting pretty much says it all.
But thanks for posting!
A few years ago I moved and found I was in a 'super parish' (3,000+ families). I have a degree in theology and volunteered for youth education. I was expecting to teach 15-16 year olds Aristotelean philosophy and prepare them for the Summa - instead I stood in a circle with them clapping my hands while a youth leader talked about pop music.
That's right - a LifeTeen parish.
After the third session I complained to the head of teen 'outreach' that we had yet to mention God, Sin, or any sort of actual theology.
I was no longer invited to the sessions.
I went to the DRE and demanded an explanation for why the teen program didn't do anything but play parlor games. She said "Well, we don't want to bore the kids. Besides, when we do try that old stuff it upsets the parents."
I now attend an FSSP parish 30 miles away.
Have you seen today's News & Observer article about the TLM at the Cathedral yesterday?
I kinda jumped up and down a little and grabbed a copy. (it's online too, of course)
Young people don't want to hear that crap. They want Chant and the Real Mass because it was denied to them by the worst generation. Teenagers have no choice but to be trads to rebel against boomers.
I was told by a few priests that they stopped this nonsense because the only people showing up were boomers.
V-S-O
I'm sorry to disagree again. I know what you've seen, heard and read. I've seen, heard and read the same. However, I have worked in the heart of Life Teen. Their programs and materials are authentically, beautifully, radically Catholic, calling to true conversion of the heart. Their goal is to lead teens to Christ. This means the Eucharist, Reconciliation, and so much more that we are blessed to know as Catholics. The problem in the cases of Life Teen parishes in which you see nothing but pizza parties and emotional manipulation is not Life Teen, but our relativistic culture.
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