The bishop of the Fort Worth Catholic diocese is talking for the first time about a civil lawsuit filed by members of a monastery in Arlington. The lawsuit by the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity Discalced Carmelite Nuns accuses Bishop Michael Olson and the Fort Worth Diocese of theft and defamation.
Olson removed Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach from the monastery after he says she admitted to violating her vow of chastity. In a video posted on YouTube by the Diocese of Fort Worth, Olson said Gerlach admitted to a relationship with a priest from another diocese.
"She voluntarily made these admissions on four different days with clarity and consistency but without naming the priest," Olson said. "To be clear, she made these admissions outside the Sacrament of Confession."
Olson said he spoke with Gerlach in April "as part of the church's prescribed and internal investigation" with several other clergy. During that meeting, he says Gerlach admitted for a fifth time she broke her vow.
"It has hurt me deeply because I love the sisters and the Arlington Carmel very much," Olson said in the video. "I have known the sisters over 30 years, and I have prayed with them, and I have relied on their prayers."
Olson said the case was a "pastoral matter" which should have been handled by counsel within the Catholic church.
Gerlach's lawyer had previously said she "100% categorically denies" an affair with a priest. Olson said the priest works in another diocese. He said the bishop of that diocese told him the priest has been restricted and is not currently assigned to a parish. Olson said the priest, after consulting with his own canonical lawyer, refused to participate in the investigation.
After Olson posted the video, Gerlach's lawyer, Matthew Bobo, wrote in an email, "We are aware of Bishop Olson's latest defamatory comments about the Mother Superior's alleged sins and also acknowledge that he has gone public once again without providing any specifics."
The lawsuit also includes an accusation of theft. Bobo has said the diocese confiscated phones and computers belonging to the monastery which the suit says does not operate under the control of the Diocese of Fort Worth but rather answers directly to the Vatican. Last week, the Vatican issued a statement saying the pope had given Olson governing power over the monastery.
In the video, Olson said the electronics "were requested calmly and given freely by Mother Teresa Agnes." He said accusations the diocese was "spying on the sisters and are privy to privileged communication between the sisters and their legal counsel are baseless, ludicrous and not true."
Olson said "individuals who are closely associated with the monastery" have come forward with evidence of "illegal drug activity." He said the diocese turned over the information to Arlington Police and denied claims the drugs may have been planted.
Bobo has said police did not mention drugs when they visited the monastery last week.
"The absolutely ridiculous allegations by the diocese including anonymously-sourced photos that could have easily been staged and doctored by anyone, and from anywhere, are without merit," he wrote.
The lawsuit seeks $1 million in relief.
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