FORT WORTH, Texas — A Carmelite nun told the vicar general of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth that she had fallen in love with a priest and would need to leave the order and devote her life to prayer, according to testimony during a court hearing Tuesday.
The vicar general, the Very Rev. Jonathan Wallis, testified that the Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach told him on three occasions — outside of confession — that she had broken her chastity vows. Gerlach shared this information with Wallis when he visited the monastery to celebrate Mass, he said.
Gerlach is suing Bishop Michael Olson and the diocese for $1 million, alleging that he defamed her, invaded her privacy and stole personal electronic devices after he received reports of her transgressions. She has denied the allegations. Sister Francis Therese of the monastery is also suing Olson because she alleges the bishop took the devices and “stole” information pertaining to the monastery.
Gerlach, 43, was hospitalized for seizures in November, and was on pain medication as a result, her attorney, Matthew Bobo, said Tuesday. Gerlach uses a wheelchair and relies on a feeding tube.
The hearing was held to determine whether a secular court has jurisdiction to allow the lawsuit to go forward. Attorneys for the diocese argue that the courts should not entangle themselves in canonical matters, but Bobo said the issues involve invasion of privacy, defamation and property rights, which are secular matters.
Judge Don Cosby, of the 67th District Court said he will issue a ruling next week.
“This is a difficult, emotional matter. I hope everyone respects that,” he said.
Bobo said he would not comment until after the judge issues his ruling.
Gerlach oversaw the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity on 72 wooded acres in Arlington.
Olson dismissed Gerlach from the order on June 1, a day after the Vatican gave him the authority to investigate. She has appealed her dismissal.
During the hearing Tuesday, Wallis testified that Gerlach told him on Dec. 22, Dec. 24. and Jan. 5 that she had broken her chastity vows. Wallis said she didn’t name the priest, but said he was not from Fort Worth and that the sex was consensual. Olson, during testimony, said the priest and nun were “sexting.”
Therese called Gerlach a “whore” when she learned of the transgressions, Wallis testified.
On Jan. 5, he said, Gerlach told him that she needed to see a doctor because she was “nervous about being late.”
On cross examination, Bobo asked Wallis if he was aware of her significant health issues. He also asked Wallis why he waited until April to report the “grave misconduct.”
Wallis responded that Gerlach told him that she was going to speak to her superior, and he felt that she should go through that chain of command. He said he was also following canonical procedures.
During the hearing, Michael Anderson, an attorney representing the diocese, played an audio recording of the interview between Olson, Gerlach and Sister Francis Therese. A transcript was displayed on a screen.
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.”
Gerlach was reluctant to do so, but eventually said his name is Bernard Murray, who is from a community in Montana. The priest has not cooperated with the investigation, Olson said.
“Was it more than one time?” Olson asked.
“Yes.”
She told Olson that she and the priest would sometimes communicate via email, but how the two met never came up in the discussion.
She 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.
Priest was at Montana monastery
Murray is a monk who was working at a monastery with the the Transalpine Redemptorists in Montana, a chapter of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, a Catholic group of missionary monks. The organization, based out of a Scottish island, says it can trace its origins back to the seventh century, according to the Papa Stronsay website, named after the congregation’s island.
The earliest record of the group by a contemporary author seems to be from 1045.
The congregation started work on the monastery in 2020, dubbing it the Montana Rosa Mystica and asking people to send donations for its construction to Most Holy Rosary House in Jordan, Montana, according to the website.
The Transalpine Redemptorists did not respond immediately to a Star-Telegram request for comment.
Should the lawsuit go forward?
During their closing statements, attorneys sparred over whether the lawsuit should go forward.
Bobo argued that the diocese violated Texas law concerning property rights and said the diocese did not have the right to take private property. He cited several cases to back up his argument.
He also argued that the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity is a nonprofit corporation and the diocese doesn’t oversee its governance.
But Chase Medling, an attorney representing the diocese said, “There are constitutional issues at stake. There is an ecclesiastical abstention doctrine preventing the courts from getting involved in church-related investigations.”
Medling argued that the case must be dismissed because it involves church investigations of ecclesiastical matters.
Bobo countered that the ecclesiastical doctrine is not applicable because the diocese violated state laws.
“Texas courts have gotten involved in property rights cases involving churches,” he said.
He talked about Gerlach being asked to turn over her cell phone and laptop.
“There is no way that the court can believe it was a voluntary turnover of property. They were ordered to do so.”
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(Staff writer James Hartley contributed to this story.)
