"I realized there was one particular remedy that would be helpful across the board," Gray said, "and that is the removal of Bishop Olson." Agnes reportedly lives with a PICC line, wears a feeding tube 24 hours a day, and is hooked to an IV drip 10 hours a day. She is just a joy to talk with and be with all the time. The group, which calls itself FRK (Fr. We are all 'cafeteria Catholics.' Gerlach, who is in poor health, requiring a feeding tube and full-time care, sued Olson and the Diocese last month, describing his actions as "pure evil" when he cut off mass and confession for the nuns and interrogated them over allegations about her alleged sin. People from their parishes have told the Star-Telegram that they believe the priests were forced to resign. Olson says the admissions were outside of confession, and that she admitted it a fifth time to him and freely gave him the name of the priest involved. A spokesperson for the diocese declined to comment further on the matter. From time to time, Bishop Olson has made decisions after appropriate consultation during his tenure that have upset some people and that have been directed for the care and protection of the vulnerable. But once we started to issue those subpoenas, that is when Bp. https://www.ncregister.com/cna/breaking-judge-dismisses-texas-monastery-s-lawsuit-against-fort-worth-bishop, dioceses allegations concerning the use of marijuana and edibles at the monastery, publicly identified as Father Philip Johnson, Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Former Prioress in Forth Worth Admits to Sexual Misconduct in Recording, Names Priest, Texas Carmelites Case Reflects the Vaticans New Culture of Ecclesial Punishments, Carmelite Nuns File New Theft and Defamation Charges Against Fort Worth Bishop Olson, Fort Worth Nun Forced to Use Bishop-Appointed Canon Lawyer Amid Dispute With Diocese, At Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis Asks Parents to Sow Faith in Their Children, In the Footsteps of Bernadette: A Pilgrim at Lourdes, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time: The Parable of the Sower and the Seed, 12 Keys to Using the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Bishop Michael F. Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth. Do you remember what he said? Diane Cluley: "He was a fearful, insecure young man.". Michael Fors Olson (born June 29, 1966) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. The nuns sought for a temporary restraining order keeping Olson from his investigation into the monastery, as well as a declaratory judgment defining the legal relationship between the two parties. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. In their lawsuit, the nuns said that because of Olson and the Diocese's actions, the monastery was no longer able to pay bills or financially operate because their technology was confiscated. Although Kirkham initially tendered a letter of resignation, he has since rescinded it through an attorney who is representing him. The reverend mother, 43, has been a nun at Holy Trinity Monastery for 25 years and is currently suffering from serious medical issues that have confined her to a wheelchair, according to her attorney. . Based on this finding, as the pontifical commissary with authority over the monastery, Olson said he is dismissing Gerlach from the Order of Discalced Carmelites. Some of the questions that he answers are: Why Remove Bishop Olson from the Ft. Worth Diocese? Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: God's work keeps on keeping on, Hollywood goes to Lourdes with 'The Miracle Club', The novel that will change your mind about video game stereotypes, Silicon Valley real estate firm tests one path for affordable housing. The Vaticans Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life has formally recognized that Bishop Olson has authority over the nuns, the Fort Worth Diocese has said. He said the Diocese has released no information regarding the alleged violation, such as when or where it would have occurred. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news. Sources close to the situation have called Olson a sociopath for throwing his second mother under the bus. Olson says he was told that under the advice of counsel, the priest would not participate, and would not confirm or deny anything happened. The Diocese has never named the priest allegedly involved but Olson denied covering up any wrongdoing by the man. He said it has no authority over the law of Texas whatsoever, and that it should not affect the civil lawsuit filed by the monastery. Pontifical right, the suit said, is a term given to religious institutions created or approved by The Pope. The Latest Judge dismisses Texas monastery's lawsuit against Fort Worth bishop Jul 1, 2023 By Shannon Mullen The Carmelite nuns of the Most Holy Trinity Monastery in Arlington, Texas, plan to. He has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth in Texas since 2013. "I never thought I would find myself going against the church I've been a part of my entire life," Knobbe told NCR. "There's clearly a bigger picture here, and its money," he said. In the video Olson says Gerlach first admitted to a vicar, another priest and another nun, Sister Francis Theres, that she had violated her vow, making admissions on four different days. Without comment, Tarrant County District Court Judge Don Cosby, sitting in Fort Worth, issued a ruling June 30 granting the Fort Worth Dioceses motion to dismiss the monasterys complaint, which accused Bishop Olson of theft, defamation, and abuse of power. Richard Kirkham, who was asked to resign by the bishop, are taking advantage of an elderly woman. Olson is at the Vatican for a five-day meeting with 17 other bishops from Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Olson turned to Cluley and her family for comfort and solace, coming over to dinner on a near-daily basis, staying late at the house, becoming close to Cluley's sons, calling her frequently on the phone to share his joys and his woes, and through the years inviting her and her family to visit him in seminary here and abroad. Priest who filed defamation lawsuit against Bishop Olson, Fort Worth Kirkhams attorneys have said in letters and interviews that the priest was forced to resign in June 2018. The Fort Worth Catholic diocese, led by Bishop Michael Olson, has dismissed a nun he accused of violating her vow of chastity with a priest. He also does not discuss his rejection of their own choices for representation. Pope Francis meets with Ukrainian president at the Vatican, Nuns challenge Fort Worth bishops authority in new lawsuit, Vatican experts uncovering gilded glory of Hercules statue struck by lightning. option selection above at the current full price on the date of each renewal, until you cancel. Several hundred people have signed an online petition that calls for a papal investigation into the behavior of Bishop Michael Olson of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth. Female Questioner: "I need you to describe the type of torture. The four temperaments can help you navigate the spiritual life. He said he was a bishop and we were just hugging him and crying, and we were so thrilled for him, she said. Catholic Church. Olson rented a room in the Gardena home of Royce Leon Lanham, the prosecutor said. Cluley spoke about the removal of some of the priests in her testimony and said the loss of many beloved priests is why shes came forward. Texas Right to Life has led the vanguard in fighting the Texas Advanced Directives Act - which has the full-throated support of the Texas Bishops Conference. Bobo told Insider the nuns' devices have since been returned to them but not before Olson and the Diocese obtained a forensic copy of everything on the devices. agree that your subscription will automatically renew monthly, quarterly or annually based upon your subscription Steve Knobbe: "Totally disagree. Gerlach, 43, is suing Bishop Michael Olson and the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth for $1 million, alleging that he defamed her, invaded her privacy and stole personal electronic devices after he . an Arlington monastery he is investigating. Updated on: June 12, 2023 / 7:42 PM What Christians don't understand about building the Kingdom of God. Priest Pulls Lawsuit Against Ft Worth's Bishop Olson, But Allegations He once became red-faced and yelled at a parishioner, calling her a nasty lady when she asked him why he removed Kirkham, multiple witnesses have said. currently on a feeding tube and ventilator, But Olson had no problem allowing pro-abortion, Some clergy responded with comments, one of them reading: ", Vivian Wolf: "They are scared. He said not only does Olson now have access to the nuns' personal, private, and financial information, but he has all the personal information about people who contribute financially to the monastery. Generally, prices range between $400 . Nun accused of breaking chastity vow: I made horrible mistake | Fort Im not a dictator, Olson said. 'Pure evil': Nuns file lawsuit against Catholic bishop - CBS Texas | Credit: Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity Discalced Carmelite Nuns, Bach on a mountain: Wilderness experience informs faith at Wyoming Catholic College, 12 keys to using the brown scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Have more questions? When she asked Olson why, she said he responded Well, hell, its just a bunch of women in there and later called the nuns aging lesbians, Cluley said, alleging that Olson has anger toward women. Yearly: $120 a year, To pay in advance without a subscription, click here ", Referring to parishioners as "merely sheep" or "nasty people", Diane Cluley: "He talked about how that priest should die and be tortured first.". In a 2019 tweet responding to legislation in Virginia that would have . She is in full sound mind. A Texas judge has dismissed a Carmelite monasterys civil lawsuit against Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson. Then, she said he told her he was going to close down the 42-year-old Catholic Renewal Center, which was on the high schools campus. If you don't agree with him, it's his way or the highway. And it started immediately. But I'm not going to back down.". They list the items below as to why he needs to be removed. Do you remember what he said? Yolanda Hendon: "They were elderly, the ladies that were there at the front of the Church. On June 1 the bishop issued a decree dismissing her from religious life, giving her 30 days to appeal the decision. Diane Cluley: "It was like somebody who was possessed, you know, because this power corrupted him. "This is critically important because the Monastery and the Plaintiffs are not under the control of Defendants and instead any internal governance must be reserved exclusively to the Pope," the suit argued. In a separate statement, the diocese also announced that daily Mass and regular confession at the monastery would soon be reinstated following the investigations conclusion. And he said, 'Why? But, I was used to the cursing by then. Im decisive, and Im direct, but Im not violent, he said. Veasey has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America, consistently voting against measures to protect preborn children, including the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would've protected unborn children who feel pain in the womb. Olson does not mention in the video any church attorneys being present or available to Gerlach at the time. Reading Catholic books can help you be holy. Olson, she said, confided in her until she was no longer able to take his phone calls because they became too upsetting. The experience of Lourdes will gently leave its mark on you in some way forever. It was on the heels of us refusing to settle the defamation lawsuit because the bishop and the diocese have done nothing wrong, he said. Fort Worth Diocese: Vatican Says Bishop Has Authority Over Carmelite Because hes jealous of anybody that the people love, she said. People don't know what he's really like.". She said she met Olson when he was in his 20s, and began to consider him like a son. Can I be excommunicated by the Church for giving evidence or signing a mandate to remove the bishop from the Ft. Worth Diocese? billing. "Our choice is we can leave the church, or we can take it back. A diocesan spokesman told CNA Saturday that the Arlington Police Department has also ended its investigation into the dioceses actions against the monastery. Ninety-year-old Diane Cluley, in videotaped sworn testimony from one of the lawsuits, revealed disturbing information. began in 1974 with the total removal of Phillips Platform Harry in state waters off Santa Barbara County. Fort Worth 'Obsessed with his power': Acquaintance describes a spiteful Fort Worth Bishop Olson By Nichole Manna Updated January 24, 2020 9:43 AM A woman who said she has known Bishop. You couldnt do anything worse than that as a bishop.. Mark Seitz Psyched About New Immigration Policies, College Newspaper Reports Massive Rise in LGBT Students, Ratcheting Up: Destruction of Churches in France. In addition to the civil lawsuit in Tarrant County, the nuns have expenses associated with canonical attorneys working on their behalf for the church investigation. Olson is going to take away their ministry.