Vatican dissolves Texas monastery amid scandal and allegations
According to a decision made on 28 November, the Vatican officially dissolved the Monastery of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, Texas. This decision followed months of tension and a series of serious allegations against the local prioress. The Vatican also found that the community had experienced a "departure from the Catholic faith," and the nuns had broken their religious vows, including vows of chastity.
The community's dissolution was communicated to the faithful in a pastoral letter by the Bishop of the Diocese, Michael Olson.
"The monastery has been declared 'extinct,' which formally means its dissolution. All nuns have been deemed incapable of fulfilling their duties. They are no longer members of the order," the bishop emphasised in his letter.
Scandal
The dispute that led to this decision began in May 2023, when Bishop Olson launched an investigation against Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach. She was accused of breaking her vows of chastity by forming intimate relationships with a priest.
Gerlach, as reported by American media, admitted her guilt, explaining that the romance occurred over the phone. The case gained further attention and the dispute intensified when the monastery filed a civil lawsuit against the bishop, accusing him of invading their privacy and causing emotional distress.
The crisis was exacerbated by accusations relating to the use of - as the diocese calls it - "hemp products" in the monastery, which the diocese considered a serious violation of monastic life principles. Meanwhile, the nuns, opposing Vatican oversight, established cooperation with the Society of St. Pius X, a traditionalist group. This further convinced the Vatican in its decision to exclude the nuns.
Ban on attending masses
Acting on behalf of the Vatican, Bishop Olson has now forbidden Catholics from attending Masses and sacraments at the site of the former monastery, labelling them as "illegal" and dangerous to the unity of the Church.
The case of dissolving the Carmelite community in Texas is a unique instance because it concerns the entire community of nuns, not just individuals.
Source: Fakt/X/WP
