‘I made a horrible, horrible mistake,’ nun accused of sex with priest tells Fort Worth bishop
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What we know about the The Fort Worth Catholic Diocese’s dispute with a Carmelite nun
Arlington police have begun investigating a dispute between the Fort Worth Catholic Diocese and a reverend mother who says she was wrongly accused of “sexual misconduct” with a priest.
The diocese, meanwhile, told the Star-Telegram it has alerted police of “serious concerns” of marijuana and edibles inside the Arlington monastery of Carmelite nuns. The Fort Worth bishop says the nun admitted to the “transgression” of breaking her chastity vow with a priest during interviews with the vicar general of the Fort Worth Catholic Diocese and another sister from her order over several days in April.
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An audio recording of the interview between Bishop Olson, Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach and Sister Francis Therese was played during a hearing in the nuns’ lawsuit against the bishop and diocese on Tuesday.
Gerlach, 43, is suing Bishop Michael Olson and the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth for $1 million, alleging that he defamed her, invaded her privacy and stole personal electronic devices after he received reports of her transgressions. She has denied the allegations. Sister Francis Therese of the monastery is also suing Olson because she alleges the bishop took the devices and “stole” information pertaining to the monastery.
During the hearing, Michael Anderson, an attorney representing the diocese, played the approximately 40-minute long interview.
Amid the sound of church bells from the monastery, Olson asked Gerlach about the reports that she broke her chastity vows. Gerlach spoke in a barely audible voice.
The recording began with Olson thanking the sisters for offering him water.
“I have a difficult question to bring to you,” Olson said. “I have received information about a violation of the Sixth Commandment by you with a priest. Do you know anything about that?”
“I’m so sorry,” Gerlach said.
“It’s OK. I understand. There is hope for redemption. Let’s follow through with the priest’s name. Can you please tell me who this priest is?”
“Bishop, he’s not from this diocese.”
“Well, I understand. I have initiated an investigation of this for canonical reasons. I will read the decree in a minute. It’s very important that you consider that because other people might be in jeopardy, because I know it’s consensual … is that correct?”
“It’s true, yes.”
“But a priest, as you know, is obliged to live his promises and vows to things even moreso for a priest than a consecrated religious.”
“Bishop, most of this was done on the phone.”
“Was some of this in person? Yes, it was.”
Olson then began to read the decree, but Gerlach said: “Bishop, I need to tell you something. I don’t know how to explain this, but this did not happen in person. At all. It was all over the phone. So, he did not come down here.”
“That’s something you changed the story on,” Olson said. “We have a hard time with the truth.”
“Bishop, the truth is that he was not down here.”
“Well, we’ll have time for that in the investigation.”
“I promise you, Bishop. At the time, I was having seizures, and I was really in a very difficult position. and I think my brain just got really messed up.”
Olson read the decree and then discussed the leave of absence.
Gerlach said tearfully, “I’m sorry, Bishop.”
“I know you are.”
“I made a horrible, horrible mistake.”
He tells her the lord is involved.
Olson again prods her to share the priest’s name.
“Do I have to, do I have to?” she asks.
“Yeah,” Olson says.
Gerlach says he is Father Bernard Marie from a community in Montana, the Transalpine Redemptorists.
“He contacted our community for prayers,” Gerlach said. “And he and I were writing often to each other. And, um, we just got very close.”
“I understand,” Olson said. “And that’s when it happened, but it was not often. Was it more than one time?”
“Yes, Bishop. Yes, Bishop.”
She said the two talked over email and had a video chat.
“I see, I see,” Olson said.
“And Bishop, I really got things very confused. The sister can vouch for that.”
“I understand. I understand.”
“I was not in my right mind. Sister knows me. I would never do anything like this.”
Olson then starts to read the decree.
Gerlach said she didn’t know how to explain breaking her chastity vow and spoke having seizures.
“All the more reason you shouldn’t be prioress,” Olson said.
He told Gerlach of his canonical investigation and said she would have to move to the guest quarters of the monastery, and that he was putting her on “administrative leave.” He said she would have to turn over her cell phone and computer as part of the investigation.
Gerlach was no longer the prioress, he said. He appointed Sister Joseph Marie to oversee the monastery.
Olson told Gerlach she would benefit from psychological counsel. Gerlach said she was already seeking help.
This story was originally published June 27, 2023 at 7:51 PM.
