He may be heavy-handed, but Michael Olson is the Catholic bishop Fort Worth needs
When you’re a practicing Roman Catholic, critiquing the Church’s leadership can get a bit sticky.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which outlines the beliefs of the faithful, describes in no uncertain terms how the laity should approach bishops: “The faithful should be closely attached to the bishop. … Let no one do anything concerning the Church in separation from the bishop.”
That doesn’t leave a lot of room for dissension.
Of course, there are times when silence and acquiescence are inappropriate. The scandal of sexual abuse hidden by and carried out within the church hierarchy, for example, very much warrants the criticism of the faithful.
But things get murkier when it’s the day-to-day decisions, or even the manner and nature of the bishop’s personality that rub people the wrong way.
It’s those concerns — management and demeanor — that have prompted some Catholics in the Fort Worth diocese to push for the removal of Bishop Michael Olson.
And it needs to stop.
Displeasure with Olson began early in his tenure, over a change in leadership at Nolan Catholic High School, the closure of the Catholic Renewal Center and the shuttering of San Mateo Catholic Church.
Those decisions all had reasonable explanations — the Marianists were already leaving Nolan; there were issues of doctrinal laxity at the Renewal Center; financial considerations, staffing challenges and dwindling parish attendance were factors at San Mateo — but the narrative had been set: Olson was a tyrant.
So when beloved priests began resigning, it only made sense that Olson was to blame.
While the reasons for the resignations of the Rev. Gary Picou and the Rev. Jeff Poirot have not been disclosed to the public, the Rev. Richard Kirkham’s has been the subject of a defamation lawsuit against the bishop. The suit was dropped this week, shortly before the court was scheduled to consider its dismissal, but not before advocates for Kirkham published video testimony by a long-time friend of Olson, painting the bishop in the most unflattering light.
In a pastoral letter to the diocese this week, Olson called the actions of Kirkham’s supporters an attempt to humiliate him. Given the precipitous withdrawal of the suit, it’s hard to see these actions as anything but an attempt to assassinate his character.
There is speculation that the seeds of derision are being sowed not by disgruntled priests and parishioners but by political organizations. After all, Olson — like bishops the world over — has evangelizing to do, and that sometimes means entering the fray.
Olson certainly hasn’t flinched at the opportunity to infuse Catholic teaching, when relevant, into the public sphere. That includes sometimes controversial stands, like his defense of refugees and his support of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops’ public break with Texas Right to Life.
As a personal friend of Gov. Greg Abbott, Olson has had ample opportunity to consult with policymakers on a variety of issues, earning him friends and enemies on both sides of the political aisle.
It’s possible, even likely, that organized groups have sought to capitalize on public frustrations with Olson. But the crux of claims against him is much more personal.
There are enough stories about Olson’s temper and dismissive attitude to warrant attention, if not concern.
After all, the Catechism also says that the bishop should be “conscious of his own weaknesses”, “have compassion for those who are ignorant and erring” and “not refuse to listen to his subjects whose welfare he promotes as of his very own children.”
Even those close to the bishop will concede that he can be overbearing and that he is sometimes less than pastoral, although they might call him “succinct” or “direct.” That is disappointing.
Then again, it probably takes a heavy hand and an abiding love for the church and her teachings to clean up the messes Olson encountered when he took over the diocese six years ago.
On that front, Olson’s actions have been above reproach. Indeed, he was the right bishop at the right time.
It should go without saying, whether the anecdotes about his character are true, that as a man, Olson is flawed.
That is evidence that he, and the church he serves, need our prayers, not more petty criticism.
