Case against Fort Worth bishop, catholic diocese dismissed

This is the second suit against the entities filed by the monastery to be dismissed.

arlington, Texas — A second civil suit filed against the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth and Bishop Michael Olson by an Arlington monastery of nuns has been dismissed after the nuns filed a request for dismissal. 

Documents show the request for non-suit was filed Tuesday afternoon and granted by the presiding judge of the 67th judicial district. 

The previous civil suit was dismissed by a judge in June of last year, determining that the case was a church matter, not a civil one.

In a written statement, the diocese said it was shocked this lawsuit, which it called frivolous, was filed after the lawsuit last year was dismissed.

"The Diocese was Informed today that this lawsuit was withdrawn on the eve of a hearing," the statement reads. "The Diocese was confident that once again the suit would be dismissed by the court on grounds that this is a church matter, not a civil matter. We pray that the sisters of the Carmelite Monastery can with sobriety accept the need for spiritual and moral reconciliation with The Church."

 Matthew Bobo, the attorney for the monastery, issued the following comment to WFAA:

"The monastery and the sisters no longer need the Court's relief sought in the lawsuit and is confident that the protection of its corporate governance and all of its assets are protected from any actions the bishop and Christ the King might try to take going forward."

Last month, Olson said the Association of Christ the King in the United States of America, the parent association of the monastery, had been entrusted with direct oversight and governance responsibility for the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington. 

Last year, Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, who led the monastery at that time, 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. 

Police launched their own investigations into the monastery and the bishop last June following weeks of civil disputes between Olson and the nuns.

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