Msgr. Dale Fushek, founder of Life Teen, excommunicated

Hat-tip goes to American Papist.

Those that know me best know that I have given pretty sharp criticism of Life Teen in the past, mostly for their liturgical errors. Those errors were, for the most part, corrected in 2004, so my criticism has, for the most part, subsided. While I do feel that the music used at Life Teen Masses is intrinsically disordered (along with the "obligation" to join hands during the Our Father and a Sign of Peace that consists of hugging ... everybody -- not a problem exclusive to Life Teen) and not exactly spiritually enriching like the Vatican II-encouraged organ and Gregorian Chant, I do not think that the music alone should negate the entire organization. In the past, when someone mentioned Life Teen as something our parish should adopt, I would say, "You do know that the founder of Life Teen is under criminal investigation for sexual abuse, right?" That was usually enough to end the conversation. This was not a proper response, though, as Mark Shea rightly pointed out.

Life Teen puts a central focus on the Eucharist and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. That should be commended no matter what you feel about the Life Teen liturgies. On top of that, the materials are very orthodox, and are great supplements to a Catholic youth program.

There are those that will want to "excommunicate" Life Teen along with Msgr. Fushek, and I think that it is wholly unfair to do so.

We need to understand his excommunication. Msgr. Dale was not excommunicated for his allegations. He was excommunicated for beginning a non-denominational church called the "Praise and Worship Center." While this new church was billed as non-denominational, it was being run by two ex-priests (not formally laicized yet). The scandal and schism that follows in these implications gave Bishop Olmsted (a family friend of mine), no choice but to excommunicate.

Through all of this, another part of my ire for Life Teen is connected, here. It seemed to me that more emphasis was placed on the praise and worship music during Mass than on the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It bothered me that folks felt the need to lure the youth in with electric guitars and drums, as if the Word, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ, and the option to participate in the greatest aspect of being a part of His Church, could not suffice. It worried me that Msgr. Dale's question he posed to the youth of his parish did not get an absolute yes from every high school student in the congegation in 1998:

"A while ago, at a Life Teen Mass at St. Timothy's Catholic Community in Mesa, Arizona, Fr. Dale Fushek, the pastor, asked the congregation how many of them believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and almost all of them stood up. After another question on basic Christianity that was answered again by almost everybody standing up, he asked, "How many of you all really believe that the fullness of Christ's teaching is contained in the Roman Catholic Church?" Only about one-sixth of the "faithful" stood up ... It blew me away that all those Catholics knew what they believed but were clueless as to why."

If this was indicative of the Life Teen crowd, then something obviously wasn't working. The fact that Msgr. Dale asked that question, though, made his formation of a new church even more surprising. Then, he went and named the Church "The Praise and Worship Center." It leads one to ask: Was his focus this whole time really on the Eucharist, or was it the praise and worship?

It should be noted in thinking about all of this: excommunication is not kicking someone out of the Church, do not pass go, do not collect $200, and don't you ever set foot on this hallowed ground again.

Excommunication is letting that person know they are in error, that they should formally repent, and be welcomed to receive the sacraments again. Those that criticize the Church for never excommunicating Hitler forget one thing: he didn't want to come back, and his continual slaughter of millions of Jews (along with of gypsies, homosexuals, Polish people and thousands of priests) showed there was no need for excommunication. Hitler was out.

Let us pray that Msgr. Fushek and Dippre do, indeed, return, and to quote Msgr. Dale, that they once again "really believe that the fullness of Christ's teaching is contained in the Roman Catholic Church."

Dave's Tag Team Moment - As a church musician, I have something of a love/hate relationship with praise and worship music. I love to play it, but hate that it can easily overshadow other parts of the liturgy, and too often lay people - young and old - can lose sight of what's really crucial in our worship. I think the music has its place but mostly outside of the celebration of the Mass.

As for the lack of Hitler excommunication, obviously der Fuerher had no intention of ever coming back to Mother Church, but one wonders if the rest of the world might have appreciated the attempt. Such a move could have nipped in the bud later attempts to smear Pope Pius XII. Ah, well.