Fort Worth bishop’s treatment of reverend mother like a ‘crucifixion,’ nun says

A Carmelite nun who sued Bishop Michael Olson over his investigation into a report that the prioress of a monastery broke her vow of chastity said she and the other nuns had considered Olson a friend and ally who protected their prayerful way of life.

But that changed on April 24 when Olson and several officials from the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth showed up at the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington to question the Rev. Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, said Sister Francis Therese, who has been helping care for Gerlach as she experiences health issues.

Olson was looking into a report that Gerlach broke her vow of chastity with a priest. He said she would have to turn over her cell phone and computer as part of the investigation. Later, the diocese publicized details of its investigation.

Gerlach, 43, and Francis Therese later sued Olson and the diocese for $1 million, alleging that Olson defamed Gerlach, invaded their privacy and stole personal electronic devices.

Olson eventually dismissed Gerlach from the order. She has appealed that decision to the Vatican.

“As the caretaker for Mother Teresa Agnes it’s like a crucifixion seeing her dragged through the mud. They could have asked her how she was doing,” Francis Therese said.

A Tarrant County judge dismissed their lawsuit on June 30, ruling the court did not have jurisdiction in a church matter. The nuns’ attorney said Monday they would not appeal the decision, clearing the way for the Vatican to review the matter. It had said it would not act until the civil case was concluded.

Late last year, Gerlach told the vicar general of the diocese, the Very Rev. Jonathan Wallis, that she had broken her chastity vow with a priest from outside of the diocese. The nuns consider Wallis a friend, and Gerlach thought she was speaking to him in confidence, Francis Therese said.

She said Gerlach was taking medication for seizures and was not in her right mind. That should have been obvious to Wallis, she said.

“Even though I knew very well and could see that she was not doing well during those days, he seemed oblivious,” Francis Therese said. “For heaven’s sake he has known her for years, of course she wasn’t thinking right! What she was saying to him was mostly in her imagination.”

When Olson came to the monastery on April 24, Gerlach had just returned from a medical procedure and was still under the the influence of anesthesia and pain medication, Francis Therese said.

Wallis testified during a June 27 court hearing that Gerlach told him on three occasions — outside of confession — that she had broken her chastity vows.

Olson said during that hearing he followed procedures in canon law and consulted with the Vatican when he investigated Gerlach.

During the interview with the Star-Telegram, Francis Therese described how a priest, known to them as Father Bernard Marie, sent an email to the nuns asking for prayers because of a health condition. The Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, later identified him as the Rev. Philip Johnson.

“What I understand is that this priest texted her asking for prayers,” Francis Therese said. “Somehow in the course of the text exchange something inappropriate was said. It was never in person.

“When she realized it, she became very distressed. She is a religious, she is a consecrated woman, and she takes her vocation very seriously. She didn’t resolve it in her own mind without counsel. Innocently, she went to Father Wallis.”

Francis Therese said Wallis knew of the reverend mother’s physical condition but was not compassionate toward her.

A beautiful spirit

Sister Francis Therese said she came to the monastery in 1977, and Gerlach joined in 1998 after she graduated from Dallas Ursuline Academy when she was 18.

Francis Therese said she was asked to assist with Gerlach’s training as a novitiate.

Gerlach showed a special talent for caring for the elderly nuns, including two reverend mothers who died, Francis Therese said.

The sisters elected Gerlach as reverend mother two years ago because of her leadership talents and her “beautiful spirit,” Sister Francis Therese said.

When Gerlach began to have health issues, she wanted Francis Therese to help with her care. She uses a feeding tube because her stomach is paralyzed after a botched surgery, and she uses a wheelchair because of her weak condition, Francis Therese said.

Francis Therese said that on Jan. 2, Olson came to the monastery and asked the reverend mother to step down because of her health.

“We told him, ‘Bishop, we don’t want her to step down,’” Francis Therese said.

She said the bishop “goes in to a temper tantrum” when he’s told no.

“The fact that I said no to him ticked him off,” she said.

Meanwhile, the nuns’ attorney, Matthew Bobo of Fort Worth, said Monday the nuns hope the Vatican will reverse Olson’s actions and that the daily Mass for the laity that Olson removed during his investigation will soon be reinstated.

The diocese said in a statement that Olson remains the superior of the monastery and Gerlach remains on administrative leave during the appeal.

The status quo for Mass will remain during the canonical appeal, the diocese said. Daily Mass will continue to be provided for the nuns, it said.

Sister Francis Therese said the nuns beg God for mercy.

“Only divine power can cause the bishop to reverse his actions,” she said. “He certainly owes the reverend mother a public apology, but I know that will never come.”