The Vatican has suppressed the Carmelite Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas, after a long controversy that began with a diocesan investigation over accusations that the prioress had broken her vow of chastity.
On December 2, the Bishop of Fort Worth (United States), Bishop Michael Olson, announced that last week he received from the Holy See a suppression decree. This document follows the removal of the former nuns, which occurred in October after a series of disagreements with the local bishop.
Receive the main news from ACI Prensa by WhatsApp and Telegram
It is increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channels today:
The decree, dated November 28, is signed by Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and by Sister Simona Brambilla, MC, secretary of the dicastery.
The dicastery found the community “extinct” and decreed the suppression of the monastery. The decree cited the “notorious desertion of the Catholic faith” that led to the expulsion of the five nuns and the only novice from the monastery, as well as the expiration of the vows of the seventh member, “thus leaving the Monastery of the Holy Trinity without members.”
In his announcement, Bishop Olson emphasized that the women of the monastery “are neither nuns nor Carmelites despite their continued and public self-identification to the contrary.”
“The Holy See has suppressed the monastery, so it no longer exists, despite any public self-identification made to the contrary by the former nuns who continue to occupy the facilities,” he noted.
The bishop also reiterated that Catholics should not attend the mass celebrated in the former monastery. He indicated that any Eucharist or sacrament celebrated there “are illicit” and that the faithful who intentionally attend these ceremonies “damage the communion of the Catholic Church.”
At the time of publication, the former nuns had not issued any response statement. His website continues to identify them as “Discalza Carmelite Nuns.”
The controversy began last year when Bishop Olson launched an investigation into the monastery, amid accusations that the Rev. Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach had maintained a relationship with a priest.
In May 2023, the women filed a lawsuit against Bishop Olson over the investigation, alleging violations of privacy and harm to the sisters’ physical and emotional well-being. The bishop eventually expelled Gerlach from religious life.
In April of this year, the Vatican declared that the Association of Christ the King in the United States of America would oversee the “government, discipline, studies, property, rights and privileges” of the Texas monastery.
The women, however, defied the Vatican order, even associating with the Society of Saint Pius
Mother Mary of the Incarnation, president of the Association of Christ the King, who was appointed to oversee the women, announced in October that they were dismissed from the Order of the Discalced Carmelites and “returned to the secular state.”
“I wish to repeat that, since this sad series of events began to unfold in April 2023, when the former prioress herself informed me of her serious breach of the vow of chastity with a priest, I was forced to begin the search, for in accordance with canon law, justice and mercy for all involved,” Bishop Olson said in his letter.
The prelate reported that Gerlach’s admission of “her serious failure to take the vow of chastity with a priest” was “recorded and incorporated into the public record in a civil court hearing” after the former prioress filed a civil lawsuit against Msgr. Olson and the diocese.
During the June 2023 court hearing, Gerlach admitted to breaking her vows of chastity and said the affair took place over the phone. Gerlach’s lawyer, Matthew Bobo, said the former prioress was under the influence of painkillers at the time of the hearing. Gerlach, who was hospitalized for seizures in November 2022, uses a wheelchair and a feeding tube.
In June 2023, the diocese released photographs that appeared to show cannabis products at the monastery. Bobo called the allegations of drug use “absolutely ridiculous.”
The former nuns’ most recent statement, dated Oct. 30, maintains that “these claims are scandalously false” and rejects the former nuns’ dismissal, citing their recent affiliation with the Society of St. Pius X beginning in August.
Bishop Olson maintained that the diocese’s “response to his disobedient actions and slander has been constantly guided by charity, patience and has been in accordance with the instructions of the Holy See.”
The bishop asked for prayers for the former nuns, stating that the event has brought “great sadness” to the local Church and has caused “a deep wound in the Body of Christ.”
“I ask you all to join me in praying for the healing, reconciliation and conversion of these women who have turned away from consecrated religious life and who have notoriously deserted communion with the Catholic Church by their actions,” said Bishop Olson.
“Now, as always, I wish you grace and peace in Our Lord Jesus Christ,” he added.
In a Nov. 29 letter to Bishop Olson, the secretary of the dicastery assured him of the Vatican department’s gratitude for his “heroic service” to the local Church, citing the “difficulties and unjustified public attention” toward the diocese. The dicastery also asked the faithful to pray for the former nuns.
“This dicastery exhorts all members of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites, as well as the faithful of the Diocese of Fort Worth, to pray fervently so that the hearts of those who have erred may repent and return to the unity of the truth. granted to the Church by Our Lord Jesus Christ,” the decree states.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA.
Kate Quinones
Kate Quiñones is a staff writer for Catholic News Agency and a member of College Fix. He has publications in the Wall Street Journal, the Denver Catholic Register and CatholicVote. He graduated from Hillsdale College. She lives in Colorado with her husband.