Vatican Expels Texas Nuns Over Dispute

The Vatican has expelled a group of Texas nuns from the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Arlington following a dispute with Fort Worth Bishop Michael Olson, who accused Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach of breaking her chastity vows through an online affair with Father Philip Johnson. Bishop Olson recorded Gerlach's confession during an interrogation in April 2023, which led to legal battles and the dismissal of the nuns from their religious order. On November 28, 2024, the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life declared the monastery 'extinct', indicating that the nuns are no longer recognized as Carmelites or nuns. Olson warned that attending services at the monastery is illicit and harmful to the Church, emphasizing the need for healing and reconciliation. The nuns have accused Olson of seeking control over the monastery, leading them to transfer ownership to a newly established organization. This expulsion marks a significant conflict within the Catholic Church over issues of chastity, authority, and the future of the Arlington monastery.