As a young priest, Fushek was assigned to St. Jerome's Parish in Phoenix. There he began to work toward bringing children and especially teens back into the ministry and founded Active Christian Teens (ACT). ACT sought to expand the ministry to teens and young adults. a program similar to ACT at St. Jerome's. The program Fushek developed for teens proved extremely popular and numerous other parishes and dioceses began to develop Life Teen programs of their own. Fushek is no longer involved in Life Teen as of his resignation in 2005. Fushek was instrumental in planning and organizing the 1987 visit of
Pope John Paul II to Phoenix, and also the 1989 visit of
Mother Teresa. On April 19, 2000, Fushek was appointed one of two vicars general for the Diocese of Phoenix, by Bishop Thomas O'Brien. On February 15, 2002, Fushek was named a
monsignor.
Allegations of sexual misconduct In May 2002, Fushek disclosed to his congregation that in 1995 the Diocese of Phoenix had settled a
sexual harassment suit that had been filed against him by a former Life Teen staff member. In April 2004, Bishop
Thomas Olmsted, who had been installed the previous December, accepted Fushek's resignation as Vicar General. In late December 2004, additional complaints against Fushek emerged and the Diocese of Phoenix began to conduct an investigation. Fushek was placed on paid administrative leave shortly thereafter and his priestly faculties were suspended. On January 27, 2005, a lawsuit was filed in Maricopa County Superior Court alleging that Fushek witnessed a
sexual assault committed by a priest and did nothing, and in April of that year Fushek resigned effective June 30 as a Priest of St. Timothy's Catholic Church. Fushek was arrested on November 21, 2005, and charged with ten criminal misdemeanor counts related to alleged sexual contact with teens and young adults. The charges included three counts of misdemeanor assault, five of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and two of indecent exposure. The number of counts was reduced to seven when one of the victims died. A lengthy appellate process ensued when Fushek's lawyers argued that he was entitled to a jury trial on the remaining counts as opposed to one or more bench trials. The Supreme Court of Arizona upheld the argument.
Laicization In February 2010, the Diocese of Phoenix announced that based on an investigation by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
Pope Benedict XVI approved a "decree of dismissal"
laicizing Fushek. According to church law, the congregation is responsible for addressing "sexual sins" perpetrated by priests and deacons against minors. Fushek chose not to participate or defend himself in the process. On April 15, 2010, Fushek pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor assault. Fushek was sentenced to 364 days of probation and fined $250. Four other charges were dropped. The plea agreement eliminated the need for other alleged victims to testify at a trial. ==Praise and Worship Center==