{"id":2383550,"date":"2024-12-25T13:41:01","date_gmt":"2024-12-25T18:41:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vatican-expels-texas-church-after-mother-superior-breaks-vow-of-chastity\/"},"modified":"2024-12-25T13:41:26","modified_gmt":"2024-12-25T18:41:26","slug":"vatican-expels-texas-church-after-mother-superior-breaks-vow-of-chastity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/vatican-expels-texas-church-after-mother-superior-breaks-vow-of-chastity\/","title":{"rendered":"Vatican Expels Texas Church After Mother Superior Breaks Vow of Chastity"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fvatican-expels-texas-church-after-mother-superior-breaks-vow-of-chastity%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2383550&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Teh Vatican has deemed a\u200d Catholic\u200b monastery in North Texas\u200b &#8220;extinct&#8221; following a report that one of \u2063its\u2062 nuns, Reverend Mother Teresa \u200bGerlach, violated her chastity vows by having an online love affair with a retired priest, Father Philip Johnson. This decision\u200b comes \u200cafter a year-long dispute \u2062between \u200dthe local bishop, Michael Olson, and a\u200c group of nuns who supported Gerlach.\u200b Olson dismissed the nuns and asserted that they are no longer recognized as Carmelites. The\u2062 controversy began when Gerlach confessed to Olson about her relationship in April 2023,and after Olson&#8217;s examination,six nuns and two\u200c novices\u2062 filed a $1 million\u2063 lawsuit against\u200b him,which was later dismissed. Additionally, the\u2062 Arlington Police \u200dDepartment investigated claims of marijuana use at the monastery but \u200bfound no criminal charges warranted. Gerlach&#8217;s attorney has alleged that Olson\u2019s \u200dactions are part of a power grab for the monastery&#8217;s property, \u2063valued at approximately $22 million, which the nuns claim belongs\u200d to their religious order rather than the diocese. The diocese has denied these allegations, stating it has no interest in the property.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Vatican rendered a Catholic monastery in North Texas &ldquo;extinct&rdquo; after one of its nuns reportedly broke her chastity vows.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chron.com\/culture\/religion\/article\/north-texas-nuns-expelled-19955638.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Houston Chronicle<\/a>, the judgment follows a year-long dispute between the Fort Worth Catholic Bishop Michael Olson and a group of nuns who came to their sister&rsquo;s defense.<\/p>\n<p>Olson said the nuns at the Discalced Carmelite Monastery of Arlington, Texas, have since been dismissed.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They are neither nuns nor Carmelites despite their continued and public self-identification to the contrary,&rdquo; Olson wrote in a <a href=\"https:\/\/fwdioc.org\/bpolson-pastoral-letter-to-faithful-of-diocese-holy-see-decree-of-suppression-12-2-24-en.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dec. 2 statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Olson added that any Masses performed at the &ldquo;former&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/ap-christian-monastery-predates-islam-just-discovered-middle-east\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">monastery<\/a> would not be authorized.<\/p>\n<p> <script type=\"text\/javascript\"> \t\t\tif ( getCookie( \"ff_subbed\" ) ) { \t\t\t\tdocument.getElementById(\"stnvideo\").remove() \t\t\t} \t\t<\/script> <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It is gravely wrong for Catholics knowingly to assist at these Masses. Catholics do harm to the Communion of the Catholic Church by intentionally attending these ceremonies,&rdquo; Olson wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The controversy began in April 2023, when a nun at the monastery allegedly self-reported to Olson that she had an affair with a priest, according to Olson&rsquo;s statement.<\/p>\n<p>The nun in question, Reverend Mother Teresa Gerlach, reportedly confessed to an online love affair with retired Father Philip Johnson, who lived in Raleigh, North Carolina, the Chronicle reported.<\/p>\n<p>Gerlach, 43, confessed to Olson in a recorded conversation that she engaged in sexual misconduct through video chat with Johnson on two occasions, adding that nothing happened in person, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalsistersreport.org\/news\/carmelite-case-against-fort-worth-bishop-dismissed-police-close-related-investigation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Global Sisters Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Olson accused Gerlach, who uses a wheelchair, of breaking her chastity vows and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/biden-harris-breaking-ten-commandments-part-seven-encouraging-adultery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sixth Commandment<\/a>, which condemns adultery, according to the Chronicle.<\/p>\n<p>Six nuns and two in training at the monastery came to Gerlach&rsquo;s defense, filing a $1 million lawsuit with Gerlach in May 2023 against Olson.<\/p>\n<p>But the case was dismissed in June 2023, according to the Global Sisters Report.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are grateful for Judge Cosby&rsquo;s ruling today in dismissing the nuns&rsquo; lawsuit,&rdquo; Olson said. &ldquo;The decision vindicates our steadfast belief that this is a private Church matter that does not belong in the courts.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The battle between the nuns and Olson was multi-faceted, however.<\/p>\n<p>The Arlington Police Department investigated the monastery after receiving an accusatory letter from a local law firm on May 31, 2023, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/thedialog.org\/national-news\/police-investigate-texas-bishops-actions-in-nun-scrutiny-as-diocese-alleges-monastery-marijuana-use\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Dialog<\/a>, a Catholic news outlet.<\/p>\n<p>The letter expressed &ldquo;serious concerns&rdquo; about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/modern-day-sodom-gomorrah-california-passes-new-marijuana-bill-will-make-rampant\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">marijuana use<\/a> at the monastery.<\/p>\n<p>Police later closed the investigation and didn&rsquo;t recommend any criminal charges, according to the Global Sisters Report.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Priest involved in nun sexting scandal, refuses to co-operate with church investigation. Father Phillip Johnson, 38, has also lawyered up as accusations about him and now-fired Rev. Mother Superior Teresa Agnes Gerlach, 43, swirl.&#129300; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/0dvZEi41P5\">pic.twitter.com\/0dvZEi41P5<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Sumner (@renmusb1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/renmusb1\/status\/1674893724382535680?\">June 30, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/> &ldquo;What is the real motivation for Bishop Olson&rsquo;s ongoing persecution of a nun who has grave medical issues and is bound to a wheelchair?&rdquo; asked Matthew Bobo, the attorney representing Gerlach and the nuns.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Holy See needs to urgently show the Catholic faithful and the world that it takes abuse of power and oppression committed against women and vulnerable female religious seriously,&rdquo; Bobo said in a statement, the Dialog reported.<\/p>\n<p>Bobo claims that Olson&rsquo;s investigations are merely an attempt to take over the monastery in a land grab, according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-12148497\/Vatican-backs-Fort-Worth-bishop-accused-nun-violating-vow-chastity.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.K.&rsquo;s Daily Mail<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>When Olson first launched the investigation, a forensic specialist reportedly confiscated Gerlach&rsquo;s electronic devices, some of which were used to handle the financial operations of the monastery. The technology was eventually returned, but its absence left the nuns unable to pay bills in the meantime.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The stuff that was on that technology has their private personal information and has all the monastery&rsquo;s financial information, but most importantly, it has their donor list,&rdquo; Bobo told the Mail in May 2023. &ldquo;And that is a list that the bishop has been trying to get his hands on since he became bishop.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Bobo added that the monastery&rsquo;s 72-acre property in Arlington is owned by the Discalced Carmelite Nuns religious order and not the diocese Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He could arguably have the monastery shut down, and then that piece of property, which is worth about $22 million, could become part of the diocese,&rdquo; Bobo said.<\/p>\n<p>The diocese responded to Bobo&rsquo;s allegations in a comment to the Chronicle.<\/p>\n<p>The &ldquo;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/catholic-diocese-defies-woke-left-enacts-7-gender-identity-policies-align-scripture\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">diocese<\/a> never wanted the Arlington land, nor does it want the land now.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey==typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts={ \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs=[ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i=0; i <inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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This decision, reported by the Houston Chronicle, comes after a year-long conflict involving Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson and several nuns who supported their fellow sister. Olson stated that the nuns at the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Arlington have been dismissed, asserting they are no longer recognized as nuns or Carmelites despite their claims. He emphasized that any Masses held at the &#8220;former&#8221; monastery would not be sanctioned and warned Catholics against attending these services, stating it harms the Church&#8217;s Communion. The controversy began in April 2023 when Reverend Mother Teresa Gerlach reportedly confessed to having an affair with retired Father Philip Johnson during a conversation with Olson. Gerlach admitted to engaging in sexual misconduct via video chat but claimed nothing occurred in person. In response to her actions, six other nuns and two trainees filed a $1 million lawsuit against Olson but it was dismissed shortly thereafter. The situation escalated further when local police investigated allegations of marijuana use at the monastery but found no grounds for criminal charges. Gerlach&#8217;s attorney questioned Bishop Olson&#8217;s motives and suggested his investigations were an attempt to seize control of the monastery\u2019s property for financial gain, which is owned by the Discalced Carmelite Nuns rather than the diocese itself<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2383551,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Teresa-Gerlach.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2383550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Teresa-Gerlach.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2383550"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383550\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2383553,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2383550\/revisions\/2383553"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2383551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2383550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2383550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2383550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}