A bitter dispute between the nuns of an isolated Arlington convent and the Diocese of Fort Worth came into the public eye Tuesday during a hearing in Tarrant County civil court.
The nearly six-hour proceeding included explosive testimony from diocese officials, numerous references to “sexting” and drug use, and a 40-minute audio recording of a conversation between Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson and the former head nun of the monastery.
U.S. District Court Judge Don Cosby, who must decide whether the civil court has jurisdiction in the matter, said he did not expect to rule this week.
“This is a difficult and emotional matter,” the judge said. “I hope everyone respects that.”
Breaking news
Led by Olson, the diocese accused the Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach of violating her vow of chastity with a priest. On June 1, the diocese fired the nun from the convent, roughly six weeks after it began its investigation.
In turn, the reverend mother and the convent filed a civil suit against the bishop and diocese, accusing Olson of invading the sisters’ privacy, confiscating their cellphones and laptops and defaming them.
Related: Arlington nun accused of violating chastity vow with priest fired
How it started
Gerlach, 43, told a diocese official that she was falling in love with a priest outside Fort Worth and that she might have to leave the monastery, according to testimony.
Jonathan Wallis, vicar general of the diocese, said Gerlach discussed the issue with him on three occasions, including at Christmas Eve Mass in 2022. All conversations were outside of confidential confession, he said.
In January, Wallis said, Gerlach told her she was nervous because her period was late, which she said she inferred meant she thought she might be pregnant.
Wallis said he hoped Gerlach would approach higher-ups on his own. When she realized she still hadn’t in April, she reported it to Olson.
Matthew Bobo, Gerlach’s attorney, said Gerlach was hospitalized for seizures in November 2022 and was taking pain medication as a result. Gerlach, who is in poor health, uses a wheelchair and a feeding tube.
The Rev. Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, who lives and works at a convent in Arlington, is suing the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth after the bishop accused her of violating her vow of chastity with a priest.(Matthew Bobo / Courtesy)Related: Arlington nun accused of breaking vow of chastity with appeal to Vatican
Audio recording
Attorneys for the diocese played a roughly 40-minute recording of a conversation between Olson and Gerlach from April.
As church bells rang in the background, Gerlach admitted to breaking his vow of chastity on two occasions. At another point in the conversation, however, he said the affair was only conducted over the phone.
“I wasn’t in my right mind,” Gerlach said at one point. “Even a nun can fall.”
Olson also said a nun at the convent told her the broken vow involved “sexting” between the two. Under Olson’s questioning, Gerlach identified the man involved as a priest in Montana.
Toward the end of the meeting, Olson ordered Gerlach to put away his cell phone and other technology, according to the recording. Olson testified Tuesday that he has not reviewed her messages or any other content on her devices.
drug use
In early June, the diocese released photographs that appeared to show cannabis and marijuana products inside the monastery. Olson said a maintenance worker at the monastery gave him the photographs.
Olson defended the decision to release the photographs, arguing that he was defending himself against claims by the monastery’s attorney that he was under criminal investigation by Arlington police.
Arlington police are investigating the matter at the monastery’s request, a police spokesman said at the time.
The issue had caused “distrust” and “scandal” among the Catholic faithful, Olson said.
