This traditionalist group is not in full communion with the Catholic Church and has a canonically irregular status.

After making a "unanimous decision," the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas, said they have "completed the final steps necessary for our monastery to be associated with the Society of St Pius X, who will henceforth assure our ongoing sacramental life and governance," according to a Sept 14 announcement on their website.

Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth had offered to reinstate sacramental life at the monastery if the sisters agreed to disassociate themselves from Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano.

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Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas revealed that the priests have been serving as chaplains to the nuns without authorisation.

The priests, the bishop disclosed, are members of the Society of St John, a religious institute that was suppressed because of abuse complaints. One of the priests visiting the Carmelites has been suspended from ministry since 2012.

Both priests and the Society of St John were listed in a grand jury investigation into abuse in six Pennsylvania dioceses.

Bitter dispute

The Carmelite community has been in a bitter public dispute with the bishop since April 2023.

The dispute began when Olson investigated allegations that the prioress, Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, violated her vows.

The situation escalated throughout 2023, with the nuns appealing to the Vatican and filing a lawsuit (since dismissed) against the bishop.

Despite the Carmelite nuns' protests, Bishop Olson has maintained the allegations against their superior.

The Arlington Carmelites have rejected a Vatican order directive putting their community under the jurisdiction of a national Carmelite Association. They said it is "in effect a hostile takeover that we cannot in conscience accept".

Bishop Olson says that until the sisters accept the appointment of Mother Marie of the Incarnation as rightful superior "I cannot grant permission or authority to any priest of the Diocese of Fort Worth or any other diocese or religious institute to celebrate the sacraments".

Initially, the Vatican appointed Bishop Olson as the papal representative overseeing the convent but later transferred management to the president of the Carmelite Association "Christ the King".

In June, the Vatican dismissed the nuns' complaints against Olson's measures, except for the dismissal of the prioress from the order.

The sisters continue to reject the instructions of the Vatican Dicastery for Religious and refuse to recognise the association president's leadership.

Sources

Katholisch

CathNews New Zealand

Bishop Michael Olson issued a decree on June 1, 2023, dismissing Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach from religious life following a nearly six-week-long investigation into the affair.

Gerlach had previously served as the prioress of the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington. At the time of the dismissal, Olson said that the investigation had found her "guilty of having violated the Sixth Commandment of the Decalogue and her vow of chastity with a priest from outside the Diocese of Fort Worth."

In a statement on Wednesday, Olson said that the Vatican's Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life "informed me that it overturned the decree dismissing Mother Teresa Agnes" from the Arlington monastery.

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The Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life found in favour of Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, prioress of the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas, in her appeal to remain in her order after Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson dismissed her in June 2023.

However, the dicastery upheld several of Olson's other decisions, including his opening an investigation into the accusation that Gerlach had violated her chastity vow in her contacts with the Rev. Philip G. Johnson, a priest in the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina.

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In an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper (Tuesday), their lawyer, Matthew Bobo, said that there was no need for the hearing originally scheduled for Tuesday in the district court of Tarrant County (US state of Texas).

He did not give any reasons for the sisters' partial withdrawal. The Carmelite nuns wanted to enforce in court that neither the locally responsible diocesan bishop of Fort Worth, Michael Olson, nor the new superior appointed by the Vatican dicastery for religious orders, Mother Marie of the Incarnation, was not allowed to enter the convent.

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"We are not things to be traded or given away in backroom deals," the nuns wrote in a four-page response to the decree posted to their website Saturday afternoon.

The statement reaffirms their position that they do not recognise the authority of Bishop Michael Olson, with whom they have been in a dispute since April of last year.

It also says no one from the Association of Christ the King, the organisation the Vatican says now governs the monastery, is permitted on the grounds of the monastery in Arlington.

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The nuns' legal representative, Matthew Bobo, confirmed this development in a statement released on Monday.

The decision comes after the Vatican intervened, indicating that they would withhold action on the canonical investigation until the conclusion of the civil litigation.

Two nuns from the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity filed the lawsuit, alleging that Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson (pictured) violated their privacy and damaged their reputation within the religious community.

The dispute arose when the bishop dismissed Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes of Jesus Crucified Gerlach from the Order of Discalced Carmelites. The dismissal was based on allegations of Gerlach breaking her chastity vow by being involved with a priest.

The nuns initially planned to appeal the dismissal of their lawsuit by Tarrant County's 67th District Court Judge Don Cosby.

Nuns hoping for fair resolution

However, the Vatican's communication with the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity changed their course of action. Instead of pursuing the appeal, the nuns are now placing their trust in the Vatican's canonical process, hoping for a just and fair resolution.

Attorney Matthew Bobo, who represented both Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach and her primary caregiver Sister Francis Terese in the civil law case, expressed the nuns' new stance. He emphasised that they will rely solely on the Vatican to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure justice is served.

The Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of the Apostolic Life, a body within the Vatican responsible for overseeing matters related to religious orders, will be taking up the review of the canonical investigation and Gerlach's appeal against the bishop's decision.

Diocese welcomes nuns' decision

The Fort Worth Catholic Diocese has welcomed the nuns' decision not to appeal the lawsuit's dismissal, reiterating their belief that the matter should not have been brought before a civil court in the first place.

For the time being, Reverend Mother Gerlach remains on administrative leave.

"The nuns place their hopes and prayers on a just and fair review of the case by the Vatican to ensure that acts taken by Bishop Olson will be reversed and they will be completely exonerated," Bobo said in his statement.

Sources

Fort Worth Report

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Cath News New Zealand

The decision, handed down on Friday, June 30, ruled that the nuns' suit is "dismissed for want of subject-matter jurisdiction." Responding to the decision, Bishop Olson said in a statement that he is "grateful."

"The decision vindicates our steadfast belief that this is a private Church matter that does not belong in the courts," Bishop Olson. "This matter will continue to proceed through an established canonical process."

The bishop also asked, "the faithful for their continued prayers for the Diocese, Mother Teresa Agnes, and all of the nuns at the monastery."

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Saying he would not be drawn into public discussion of the matter, the bishop attempted to refute accounts that the convent's superior had been heavily medicated when allegedly admitting to sexual sins with a priest, while insisting he had no designs or claims on the convent's property.

Addressing the Catholics of his diocese, Olson referred to the ongoing conflict between him and the nuns as "a matter that is currently causing all of us much pain, confusion and heartache."

"It has hurt me deeply because I love the sisters in the Arlington Carmel very much. I've known the sisters for over thirty years, and I have prayed with them and I have relied on their prayers."

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The latest salvo in this protracted legal and public relations battle came from the diocese itself on Wednesday.

The diocese released photographs purporting to show cannabis and marijuana products inside the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity.

Diocesan spokesman Pat Svacina stated in a press release that the diocese had "serious concerns" about the alleged use of marijuana and edibles at the monastery and had communicated with the Arlington Police Department.

However, the monastery's attorney, Matthew Bobo, vehemently denied the allegations of drug use. Bob describes them as "absolutely ridiculous" and "without merit."

The attorney stated that the accusations were part of a larger attempt to discredit the Carmelite nuns.

This dispute between the monastery and the diocese originated in April when Bishop Michael Olson (pictured in India) initiated a canonical investigation into an alleged sexual affair involving Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes of Jesus Crucified Gerlach, the monastery's prioress, and an unnamed priest from outside the diocese.

While the diocese labelled the alleged misconduct as "grave," the exact details of the affair have not been made public. On June 1, Bishop Olson issued a decree dismissing Gerlach from religious life.

In response, the monastery filed a civil lawsuit on May 3, seeking $1 million in damages. They challenged Olson's authority to conduct the investigation, arguing that they were answerable only to the Vatican.

Moreover, during their investigation, the nuns accused the diocesan officials of abuse of power and criminal behaviour.

Criminal investigation launched

Just hours before the diocese released the controversial photos, the monastery's attorney announced that the Arlington Police Department had initiated a criminal investigation into the actions of the diocese and Bishop Olson against the Carmelite Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity.

Tim Ciesco, a spokesman for the Arlington Police Department, confirmed that they had launched an investigation into Olson based on allegations raised in a letter received on May 31. Ciesco stated that detectives were still in the early stages of the investigation.

The diocese denies engaging in criminal activity during their investigation, labelling the accusations as an attempt to undermine the authority of Bishop Olson.

The diocese claimed that a confidential informant within the monastery supplied the controversial photos.

Diocesan spokesman Svacina asserted that the bishop is diligently working with law enforcement agencies to address the concerns raised by the photographs.

Amid this legal battle, Gerlach, who has been a nun at Holy Trinity Monastery for 25 years, is reportedly suffering from serious medical issues and is confined to a wheelchair.

The civil lawsuit filed by the monastery accuses Olson and the diocese of theft, defamation and abusing their power, resulting in moral violence and psychological distress for the nuns.

Both sides will present their arguments on June 23 at the civil hearing for this contentious case.

Meanwhile, Gerlach plans to appeal Bishop Olson's decision to dismiss her from religious life.

Sources

Fox 26 Houston

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

The move comes just a day after the bishop utilised his newly granted authority from the Holy See to decree her dismissal from the order.

Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes of Jesus Crucified Gerlach and her fellow Discalced Carmelite nuns from the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas, assert that Bishop Olson's public statements about her are false and defamatory.

The diocese has made several public allegations, stating that Mother Teresa Agnes engaged in sexual misconduct with a priest from outside the Diocese of Fort Worth.

These statements are connected to an investigation initiated by the bishop in late April.

As part of the investigation, Bishop Olson and three others entered the nuns' cloistered monastery and seized electronic communication devices belonging to the sisters.

The nuns filed a lawsuit on May 3, demanding the return of their devices and accusing the bishop of exceeding his authority, as they report directly to the pope.

Although the devices have been returned, the nuns' civil attorney, Matthew Bobo, claims that the bishop still possesses information obtained from them.

Nun admitted violating Sixth Commandment

On May 16, the diocese released its first public statement regarding the lawsuit, revealing that Bishop Olson was investigating allegations that Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes of Jesus Crucified violated her chastity vow and committed sins against the Sixth Commandment.

The statement was posted on the diocesan website.

In a May 31 statement also posted to the diocese's website, the diocese said the bishop was investigating the nun's "admitted-to violations" of the Sixth Commandment and chastity vow.

Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes of Jesus Crucified Gerlach

This statement coincided with a decree from the Vatican's Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, appointing Bishop Olson as the monastery's "pontifical commissary," granting him governing powers over the nuns.

The following day, Bishop Olson announced the completion of the investigation, declared Mother Teresa Agnes guilty of the charges, and dismissed her from the Order of Discalced Carmelites.

While the diocese claims the nun admitted to that misconduct, representatives for the nun deny that claim.

They say that Gerlach made an admission last year of unchastity, but without specifying details, and only while she was under the influence of opioids after surgical procedures.

Mother Teresa Agnes, 43, is currently appealing her dismissal to the Vatican's Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

In an open letter dated June 2, attorney Matthew Bobo requested that Bishop Olson specify the allegations made against Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes of Jesus Crucified Gerlach and provide evidence to support them.

Sources

The Dialog

The Pillar

Catholic News Agency

CathNews New Zealand

The Carmelite Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, located in Arlington, Texas, is embroiled in a conflict with Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth.

Olson claims to be investigating allegations of sexual misconduct against Mother Teresa Agnes of Jesus Crucified Gerlach, the monastery's superior.

According to the diocese, the nun in question has admitted to sexual misconduct.

However, the Carmelites have taken legal action against Bishop Olson, seeking a restraining order and stating that their superior was interrogated while in a state of opioid-induced delirium following surgery.

"You have to understand," a source close to the nuns, who is not authorised to speak on the record, told The Pillar, "she was in-and-out of lucidity because this was really serious medication she had taken. And in that state, she told one nun and the vicar general, that she had committed some sin against the sixth commandment."

"She was crying and upset, but she didn't give any details about any of this, and we didn't really know what she was talking about. And sometimes she said that it was a violation against chastity which she committed on the phone. So, it didn't make a whole lot of sense."

"Mother has very serious medical problems and a full-time caregiver," the source told The Pillar.

"There has been someone always by her side, for months. The notion that she committed some secret sexual sin with a priest — even on the phone — doesn't stand up to scrutiny. It is much more likely that this whole thing was a hallucination."

Money lies at the heart of the conflict

The nuns' lawyer Matthew Bobo has argued that money, rather than sexual misconduct, lies at the heart of the conflict between Olson and the monastery.

Bobo told The Pillar that he believes Olson seized the monastery's computer and other electronic devices in order to gain access to their donor database and other financial records.

"Since Olson became bishop of the diocese, he has been trying everything he can to obtain their donor list," the lawyer said.

"They have a very strong network of supporters financially who support them, and not necessarily the Diocese of Fort Worth.

"He has gone to great lengths to try to obtain that list and, because he took their devices and was able to obtain a copy of their contents, he now has that information — he has the donor databases, he has all the monastery's financial information. And that's a primary purpose of the civil suit is to get that back, because it's their private property."

The lawyer also alleged that Olson would like to see the monastery closed, so that the diocese can acquire its property, and alleged that Olson opposes the nun's traditionalist liturgical and devotional practices — though he did not provide evidence of those allegations.

A spokesman for the diocese told The Pillar that Bobo's accusations to that effect are "false and unfounded."

Sources

The Pillar

UCA News