He said she said he said: the bishop versus the nun. Perspective.

Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth in a statement shared on YouTube denied that he abused his authority when investigating a prioress of a Carmelite monastery and alleged that she admitted, on five separate occasions, that she had broken her vow of chastity. 

The dispute between the monastery and the diocese began in April when Olson launched a canonical investigation into an alleged sexual affair between the monastery’s prioress, Reverend Mother Teresa Gerlach, and an unnamed priest from outside the diocese. - CNA Tyler Arnold

The Bishop versus the Prioress

Following the investigation, the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity and Gerlach filed a $1 million lawsuit against the bishop and the diocese. The lawsuit alleged that in the course of the diocese’s investigation into Gerlach’s conduct, the bishop demanded access to phones and computers and subjected the nuns to lengthy questioning in late April.

The bishop has confiscated computers belonging to the nuns. The bishop has said the Prioress admitted to violating her vow of chastity.

“She voluntarily made these admissions on four different days with clarity and consistency, but without naming the priest,” Olson said. “To be clear, she made these admissions outside of the sacrament of confession.” ... The bishop said she made the admission in front of him, Sister Francis Therese, Chancellor and Moderator of the Curia Msgr. E. James Hart, and Director of Safe Environment Sandra Schrader-Farry. - ibid.

Allegations of sex, drug use, planted drugs, misuse of power - if the circumstances weren't so unsettling, one might base the development of a television mini-series of some sort on the unfolding drama.

It seems more than a little harsh - retaliatory even? - that the bishop should publicly expose the private sins of Mother Gerlach. What if all bishops applied themselves with a little more compelling effort to reign in errant laymen whose very public sins constitute a scandal?

Mother Gerlach is suing the bishop. The bishop has responded:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeMbTZDtrW

The bishop's video response is well crafted and frank. Little to nothing has yet been heard directly from the nun at the centre of all the attention. It's probably safe to say that no one associated with this event has wanted the attention they are now getting.

If there's a lesson to be learned from all the censorious banter, then perhaps it is that where there is confusion and a straight answer eludes common discourse, sin is likely the root cause. Repentance and forgiveness is needed or souls will be lost.

Accusations are being lobbed about by both sides claiming the other is lying and acting beyond reason. To be sure, someone is lying.

Calumny is a detestable sin. Because of it, people lose sleep, and mental and physical health can be severely affected. It is important that good reputations be protected and respected, and a person's good name be restored when an injustice is done.

Pray that the truth may be learned and upheld sooner than later, and pray that people will learn from such encounters: unattended and unconfessed, sin metastasizes, causing grief and inflicting disappointment and division among the faithful.

Let us pray that the various parties find it within themselves to act with goodwill so that the faithful will not be burdened with any further confusion nor the misery of controversy. Pray for all concerned.