ARLINGTON, Texas — An Arlington Monastery is under new leadership, as its parent association has been entrusted with direct oversight and governance responsibility following a tumultuous year for the nuns living there.
In a public statement by Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth, he said the Association of Christ the King in the United States of America has been entrusted with direct oversight and governance responsibility for the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington.
The term of the previous head nun, Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, expired on Jan. 8, 2024. As of Thursday, Mother Marie of the Incarnation, President of the Association of Christ the King, is now recognized as the lawful superior of the monastery.
"I am very grateful to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life for entrusting governance and oversight of the Arlington Carmel to Mother Marie of the Incarnation," Olson said in the statement.
Mother Marie of the Incarnation, Bishop wrote, has experience serving as a prioress in the past -- that is, the head of an order of nuns. Olson also said he would be working closely with her, providing counsel, resources and support. He also said he would be overseeing the election of new leadership at the monastery "at the appropriate time."
Both Olson's statement and the decree itself from the Vatican are listed in a tweet sent by Olson on Thursday evening:
"It is my prayer that the Arlington Carmel will now have the internal leadership needed to save the monastery and enable it to flourish once again, in unity with the Catholic Church," Olson wrote. "It is also my hope that Mother Teresa Agnes and the rest of the Community will accept the authority and leadership of Mother Marie of the Incarnation and do what is required to live as healthy and faithful members of the Carmelite Order in accordance with their religious vows."
The Carmelite Nuns of the monastery posted a statement online on Saturday in response to the new governance. They say they were not made aware about the decision until later on Thursday.
The nuns claim that the change of oversight is a "hostile takeover" that they can't accept.
"This outside authority could easily disperse us, impose its agenda in respect of our daily observance and dispose of our assets—even of the monastery itself—as it wishes, contrary to our vows and to the intentions of those who founded our community and our benefactors," the nuns shared in their statement.
"Accordingly, neither the President of the Association of Christ the King, nor any delegate of hers, is welcome to enter our monastery at this time."
NOTE: The following video was uploaded on Thursday, April 18
"I was not shocked. I was not surprised. I was disgusted," said Sheila B. Johnson, who is a friend of the sisters and still meets with them.
It was her mother who bought the land for the monastery many years ago. She still feels the Bishop is after the property.
"They are never going to side with a group of women against a Bishop," said Johnson.
Johnson says despite being suspended by the Bishop, Mother Teresa Agnes is still Mother Superior at the Carmel.
"[The Mother Superior] is running everything and she's got some health problems, but there's nothing wrong with her mind. I think the sisters will prevail. And [the Bishop] will just have to go away. But that doesn't mean it won't be ugly." Johnson said.
It was just last year that Gerlach was accused of violating one of her religious vows, as Olson had testified that she told him she had broken her vow of chastity with a priest from outside the diocese.
The feud spanned several months last year. The nuns filed a civil suit against the Bishop claiming theft, defamation and abuse of power. Their case was dismissed by a district judge on June 30 after the judge ruled the court had no jurisdiction over the matter.
Police launched their own investigations into the monastery and the bishop last June following weeks of civil disputes between Olson and the nuns.
Inside sources said last year they were worried Gerlach had been abusing prescribed drugs and using marijuana, which is illegal in Texas. The diocese had released two pictures that they claim appear to show marijuana and other cannabis products inside the monastery.
Those sources also said last year that the Mother Superior, with the help of a layperson, drove to Colorado multiple times to purchase marijuana, where doing so is legal.
"Show me the proof," Matthew Bobo, the attorney for the nuns, said in the wake of those allegations last year. "You throw out any story you want to. You can throw out any allegation you want to, just show me the proof."