A Catholic bishop in Texas has threatened to excommunicate a group of nuns after they banned him from their convent for alleging their mother superior had sex with a priest.
Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson repeated his threat in a flaming statement Saturday, accusing the Discalced Carmelites of Arlington of “public, scandalous and schismatic acts.”
It comes a day after the nuns released a lengthy public statement banning Olson and his officials from their monastery, the Convent of the Most Holy Trinity, and accusing the bishop of “slandering” their prioress, Mother Superior Theresa Agnes Gerlach , to spread.
“No one who mistreats us like the current Bishop of Fort Worth has a right to our cooperation or obedience,” the nuns said, stating they no longer recognize Olson’s authority.
The extraordinary row dates back to April, when the nuns said Olson stormed into their priory, questioned the nuns and confiscated the phones and other equipment they use to run the convent.
Bishop Olson, on trial in June, has threatened to excommunicate nuns after they banned him from their convent for alleging their prioress had sex with a priest
Mother Superior Teresa Agnes Gerlach (second from right) and her Carmelite Sisters sued the Bishop of Fort Worth for defamation after he accused her of breaking her vow of chastity
Since then, the nuns have filed a $1 million lawsuit against Olson, which was later dismissed, and the bishop has publicly accused the chronically ill Gerlach of abusing cannabis and violating “her vow of chastity” to a priest – which she did decidedly denied.
The priest involved was identified last month as Father Philip G. Johnson of the Diocese of Raleigh, a Navy veteran and brain cancer survivor who first contacted Gerlach asking for prayers from her nuns.
The Carmelites announced on their website that they would be on a religious retreat until August 27 and were not immediately available for comment.
In their statement last week, the nuns accused Olson of “unprecedented interference, intimidation, aggression, private and public humiliation and spiritual manipulation” and appeared to foresee the risk of excommunication.
“We can undoubtedly expect a lot of rhetoric to the contrary, maybe even sanctions, but we are not breaking communion with anyone,” the nuns said.
“We merely state that the abuse we have been subjected to is so grossly unjust and unbearably destroys the calling we swore before Almighty God that we cannot of conscience cooperate with that abuse,” they added added them in their statement.
In his statement, Olson said Gerlach may have suffered latae sententiae, or automatic excommunication, “through her own schismatic actions.”
“The other nuns, depending on their complicity in the publicly scandalous and schismatic actions of Mother Teresa Agnes, might have earned the same excommunication as latae sententiae,” he wrote.
“The Arlington Carmel will remain closed to the public until the Arlington Carmel publicly distances itself from these scandalous and schismatic actions by Mother Teresa Agnes,” Olson added.
Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson repeated his threat in a flaming statement Saturday, accusing the Discalced Carmelites of Arlington of “public, scandalous and schismatic acts.”
On June 1, Bishop Olson (above) exiled Gerlach from their order, the Discalced Carmelites, a day after he received special powers from the Vatican to continue his investigation
Gerlach, 43, has severe chronic health conditions that require her to use a wheelchair and a feeding tube with 24-hour care from a nun
Bishop Olson’s allegations centered on Gerlcah’s telephone and email communications with Father Philip G. Johnson (above) of the Diocese of Raleigh, a Navy veteran and brain tumor survivor
High officials in the Vatican have already taken note of the bitter controversy.
In June, the Vatican’s Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, which oversees religious orders, appointed Olson “pontifical commissioner” on the matter and granted him “full governance” over the nuns.
But Archbishop Carlo Vigano, former apostolic nuncio to the United States and longtime critic of Pope Francis, released a statement last week supporting the nuns and severely criticizing church officials who supported Olson.
“The repeated abuses of power by those who hold ecclesiastical authority over religious communities—particularly those of contemplative women—is part of a subversive plot by corrupt and heretical prelates to deprive the Church of the graces that such consecrated souls inspire. “To descend upon you,” the statement said.
“I invite everyone to support the courageous resistance of the Carmelite Sisters of Arlington with prayer and material help,” he added.
The developments follow months of wild controversy in the saga, in which Olson accused Gerlach of “sexting” with a priest before banishing her from the Carmelite order, which she joined just after graduating high school 25 years ago.
The controversy has bitterly divided Fort Worth’s Catholic community, and Carmelite supporters have launched a petition for Bishop Olson’s removal for abuse of power, which has garnered more than 500 signatures.
Gerlach, 43, has serious chronic health conditions that sometimes require the use of a wheelchair. She also uses a feeding tube and has 24-hour care from a fellow nurse, her lawyer previously told .
Olson released in court a recording of his April 24 interview with Gerlach at Holy Trinity Monastery (above), the monastery she led in Arlington
In an audio recording played in court, she appeared to admit falling in love with a priest over long-distance calls – but she staunchly denies violating her vow of chastity under church law.
Priest Johnson was only identified this week, and Olson said he refused to cooperate in the investigation into the Diocese of Fort Worth’s sexting allegations.
On June 1, Olson banished Gerlach from her order, the Discalced Carmelites, a day after he received special powers from the Vatican to continue his investigation.
Olson said at the time he found the nun guilty of “violating the sixth commandment of the Decalogue and her vow of chastity to a priest outside of the Diocese of Fort Worth,” but did not identify the priest.
In the Catholic Church, the sixth commandment is “Thou shalt not commit adultery” and prohibits sex outside of marriage. Catholic priests and nuns are forbidden to marry and take vows of celibate chastity.
There is no direct evidence of the sexting in court, rather the diocese has produced testimonies and records documenting Gerlach’s confessions that she fell in love with a priest via long-distance communication.
Priest Johnson is currently assigned to the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, which confirmed in a statement to that his priestly powers will be curtailed while the matter is investigated.