EX-VICAR-GENERAL ACCUSED OF SEX ABUSE

Msgr. Dale Fushek, a 53 year old former vicar-general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, was arrested yesterday on charges he fondled boys and young men and asked them prying questions about their sex lives that he pretended were part of confession.  He is one of the highest-ranking priests to be charged in the sex scandal that has engulfed the church.  He was charged with three counts of assault, five of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and two of indecent exposure.  All are misdemeanors, punishable by no more than 3 years and 9 months in all.  The acts were committed between 1984 and 1994 at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Mesa or on property belonging to the church.