The Bishop, the Nun, the Priest and the Courts

Succinctly put:

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article276817286.html

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.

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.

...

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.”

What comes next must have been more than a little humiliating and painful.

“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.”

What was said and recorded is now a matter of public record. Media outlets - to varying degrees - are exploiting the information for attention and profit. 

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 (See clarification below).

“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.

Full disclosure has been made, and that should be the end of all this. Some confusion might linger, and there's the bit about drugs (medicinal marijuana, perhaps?) at the monastery. At this point, the lawyer for the nuns might probably (and should) be thinking it's time to quit the lawsuit, which would be appropriate for all concerned. Another round of public exchanges would only inflict disproportionate shame and needlessly inflame sensibilities causing further division.

“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.

A basis for reconciliation is well established. The media nor the court cannot possibly know what has moved into the confessional, but they will speculate and continue to fling mud nonetheless. Those with an insatiable thirst for controversy - or who are habitually inclined to attack the Church - will continue to lap up the misery and hurt.

Clarity is emerging from the media fog. Collateral damage is being mitigated by appropriate interjections from those hinted at in the media. The Transalpine Redemptorists have spoken up.

https://papastronsay.blogspot.com/2023/06/statement-concerning-priest-named-in.html

Statement concerning the priest named in the evidence of Bp Olson of Fort Worth, Texas.

The priest (Fr. Bernard Marie, aka Fr. Philip Johnson: see Pillar article, link below) named in the evidence of Bishop Olson of Fort Worth, Texas was at our house in Montana for a few months with the permission of his diocesan bishop, Bishop Zarama of Raleigh, North Carolina. As a novice, he was not a member of the Transalpine Redemptorist Religious Order. He was and remains a priest of the diocese of Raleigh. He was not engaged in public ministry. He resigned as a novice and returned to his diocese on May 1st 2023.

Statement given on 27 June 2023. End of Statement

See also: https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/texas-court-hears-tape-in-ft-worth

The salvation of souls is the supreme law of the Church. Pray for all concerned.