Before the schism reached the convent of the Poor Clares of Belorado The example of a fashionable rebel prioress has been the superior of the monastery of the Holy Trinity of the Carmelites of Arlington (United States). A community that confronted the bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth in Texas, Michael Olsonafter uncovering accusations of adultery, abuse of power, marijuana use, defamation, lies, theft, scandal and a conspiracy to acquire valuable land. Now, to continue to avoid the control of the diocese and the Vatican, the community has joined the Society of St. Pius X, promoted by the schismatic bishop Marcel Lefebvre.
Prayer for the Pope and the Bishop
In a statement published on the convent’s website, consider the decision as part of a “spiritual renewal” in which the nuns have rediscovered “the riches of the immemorial liturgical tradition of the Church.” For this reason, they have come to this association with a “unanimous decision of the Chapter of the Monasteryand with the agreement of the entire community.” Some sisters who have chosen again Teresa Agnes Gerlach as superior, who is said to have had inappropriate relations with a priest from another diocese.
The new motto of the convent is “restore all things in Christ“which will translate into “returning to the fullness of our Catholic Tradition and restoring all things in Christ, both in our liturgical life and in the way we live our Carmelite vocation,” the nuns explain, highlighting their “affinity” with the Lefebvrists. Although They assure their prayers for the Pope and for Bishop Olson in its chapel which “is open for private prayer and the faithful are welcome to join us in attending daily Holy Mass celebrated in Latin, according to the traditional Roman rite.” The statement does not respond to the accusations against the convent and assumes its rejection of the Vatican decrees. In addition, they reiterate their refusal to give further explanations to the media.
