The future of a Texas monastery hangs in the balance as accusations of personal misconduct and property disputes erupt into a full-blown controversy.
At a Glance
- The Vatican suppressed the Carmelite Monastery in Arlington due to its prioress breaking her vow of chastity.
- Bishop Michael Olson announced the suppression after a decree from the Holy See.
- Legal and ecclesiastical battles emerge over the monastery’s $22 million property.
- The nuns have filed a lawsuit against Bishop Olson, accusing him of privacy violations and harm to their well-being.
Vatican Intervention and Suppression
The controversy began with the Vatican’s decision to suppress the Discalced Carmelite Monastery of Arlington, Texas. The suppression followed after Reverend Mother Teresa Gerlach, the prioress, was alleged to have broken her vow of chastity. The decree, signed by Cardinal João Braz de Aviz and Sister Simona Brambilla, declared the monastery “extinct” and cited “notorious defection from the Catholic faith.”
Bishop Michael Olson, from the Diocese of Fort Worth, announced the suppression, stating that the decision followed the Vatican’s investigation into the reported misconduct of Gerlach. This move has left the monastery with no active members and has drawn criticism from the now-disbanded group of nuns.
Accusations and Allegations
The situation further escalated with accusations against Bishop Olson of attempting to seize the monastery’s expansive land, valued at $22 million. Attorney Matthew Bobo, representing Gerlach and the former nuns, accused Olson of using his investigation as a guise to take over the property. Despite these allegations, the diocese has denied any interest in acquiring the land.
The Vatican has closed the Carmelite Monastery in Arlington, Texas, after a controversy involving allegations against the prioress of breaking her vow of chastity.https://t.co/Ij3M9v2CC5
— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) December 3, 2024
Bobo emphasized these points as part of a larger lawsuit against Olson, where the former nuns claim violations of privacy and harm to their well-being. However, the legal backlash reached a settlement point when the lawsuit was dismissed in June 2023, further deepening the controversy.
The Vatican has suppressed a controversial Texas Carmelite monastery — but questions remain about the monastery's property.https://t.co/2a0Rf6axGG
— The Pillar (@PillarCatholic) December 2, 2024
A Divisive Outcome
The Vatican appointed the Association of Christ the King to oversee the monastery, but former members rebelled against the order, instead associating with the Society of St. Pius X. Mother Marie of the Incarnation officially announced their dismissal from the Order of Discalced Carmelites, leaving the monastery in a state of limbo.
Through all these developments, Bishop Olson maintained that the diocese’s actions were guided by charity and patience, urging for prayers for the former nuns to find their way back to the Church. Despite the bishop’s remarks, the legal and ecclesiastical battles continue to cast doubt and uncertainty on the monastery’s future.
