Arlington nuns in monthslong dispute with Fort Worth bishop dismissed from religious life
The Carmelite nuns in Arlington at the center of months of controversy with the Diocese of Fort Worth and the Vatican have been dismissed from religious life, according to a statement on the diocese website.
The statement is from Mother Marie of the Incarnation, the Vatican-appointed authority over the cloistered nuns and the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity.
“I ask for your continued prayers and sacrifices on behalf of these seven women, who have reverted to the lay state by their own actions,” said the statement posted Monday. “Our only wish is that the dismissed members of the Carmel would repent, so that the monastic property could again be rightly called a monastery, inhabited by Discalced Carmelite Nuns, in good canonical standing with the Church of Rome.”
The nuns, who say they were notified Monday by courier, are standing their ground. One of the sisters told the Star-Telegram in a text message that they are not going anywhere.
“We definitely are not going anywhere. This monastery and this community of Carmelite Nuns belongs to Our Lord. He is the One who has helped us to get through these unjust actions against us,” the message said.
The nuns have been embroiled in a dispute with the Diocese of Fort Worth and the Vatican for over a year. It began when Bishop Michael Olson investigated a report that the nuns’ leader, the Rev. Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, broke her chastity vows with a priest from outside the diocese.
The nuns sued Olson over allegations of invasion of privacy and theft of personal property related to his investigation, but a Tarrant County judge threw out the lawsuit, ruling it was a church matter.
A few weeks ago, the nuns who live at the wooded monastery in Arlington transferred ownership of their property to a foundation of benefactors and supporters.
The nuns haven’t commented on why they turned the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity over to the foundation, but they previously said they did not want Olson and the diocese to sell the property. Olson has stated on several occasions and in court testimony that he has never intended to do that.
The Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity is now under the ownership of the Friends of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Arlington Inc. The change went against orders from the Vatican in April that placed the nuns under the authority of the Association of Christ the King to manage most day to day matters of the monastery.
Rome appointed Mother Marie of the Incarnation, president of the Christ the King Association, as the major superior of the Carmel but the nuns opposed the orders from Rome.
In his own statement Monday, Olson repeated that “the Diocese of Fort Worth makes no claim and has never made a claim to the property and assets of the Carmelite Monastery in Arlington.” He added that Catholics should not attend Mass or other services at the monastery nor “offer financial support to the Carmelite Monastery.”
The nuns issued a statement on Sept. 14 that said that they were aligned with the Society of Saint Pius X, a traditionalist society that has been at odds with the Vatican.
Mother Marie said in an Oct. 1 statement on the Diocese website that the society was “currently in an irregular canonical relationship” with the church.
“The Association of Christ the King does not support the Arlington Carmel’s step outside the boundaries of clear communion with Rome, has not been consulted about this move, and has in no way cooperated with it,” she wrote.
In another message to the Star-Telegram, the sister said that there is a Carmel in Spokane, Washington, also under the auspices of St. Pius X.
“They’re (the Carmel in Spokane) doing fine and so are we. We are very grateful to the Society. They know the truth of this situation.”
The sisters also announced that elections were held in August, and the Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach was elected to a three-year term as prioress. The election was not authorized by the Christ the King Association and Rome.
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published October 28, 2024 at 3:57 PM.