Arlington nuns files restraining order against Fort Worth bishop

The application for the restraining order accuses the diocese and Bishop Michael Olson of attempting to unlawfully usurp control of the monastery.

arlington, Texas — A temporary restraining order has been issued against the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, Bishop Michael Olson, and The Association of Christ the King in the United States of America a week after the groups attempted to take control of an Arlington monastery. 

The diocese and Olson have been embroiled in a feud with the monastery for more than a year now. Last week, the Vatican issued an order granting control of the monastery to its parent association, Christ the King.  

In the application for the restraining order, the nun's attorney, Michael Bobo, accuses the association, the diocese, and Bishop Michael Olson of attempting to unlawfully usurp control of the monastery "under the guise of some religious backdoor."

The monastery is a nonprofit corporation organized and existing under Texas laws, the document argues and provides that the affairs of the monastery are managed by its board of directors -- who may only be removed by members of the monastery. 

"Defendants attempted 'takeover' of the Corporation is unlawful, because, in order for them to have any governing power, they would have to be a member of the Board of Directors, which they are not, nor have the members of the Corporation voted to make the any of the Defendants a member of the Board," the motion argues.

"It is clear that all the actions by the Defendants over the past year are focused on resting control of the Corporation away from the Plaintiffs," the motion continues. "The Defendants are trying to utilize a religious back door to usurp the laws of the State of Texas to take over the management and assets of the Corporation."

The order restricts Olson, as well as anyone from the diocese or the association, from coming onto the monastery -- except for allowing a priest to offer daily mass and confession. It also forbids them to interfere with the management of the monastery or act on its behalf, or to have any contact with the nuns unless through legal counsel.

It was just last year that the monastery's head nun, Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach, 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. Their case was dismissed by a district judge on June 30 after the judge ruled the court had no jurisdiction over the matter. 

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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