LETTER
The Most Reverend Christophe Pierre
Apostolic Nuncio
3339 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008-3610
June 21,2023
Re: Removal of Bishop Michael F Olson
Your Excellency,
We, the undersigned parishioners of multiple parishes within the Diocese of Fort Worth, submit this petition for an apostolic visitation into the actions and behaviors of the Most Reverend Michael F. Olson, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth. It is time for the church to remove Michael F Olson as bishop of the Fort Worth Diocese. Please forward this petition to the Dicastery for Bishops and the Secretariate of State.
Since his ordination as our Bishop in January of 2014, Michael Olson has operated against canon law on numerous occasions, and has employed abusive language and vindictive actions against priests, nuns and the lay faithful in our diocese. His own behavior has impacted his ability to shepherd the local church to the extent that we believe him to be impeded. He has simply brought unrest and scandal to the Fort Worth Diocese.
We believe a visitation should, among other things, focus on Bishop Olson’s actions and behaviors in each of the areas listed below:
- Banishing the largest Pro-Life organization in Texas from Parish and Diocesan events,
- Closing and subsequent planned demolition of San Mateo Catholic Church,
- The precipitous removal of Reverend Jeff Poirot from Holy Family Catholic Church,
- Bishop Olson’s personal relationship with Reverend Paul Iverson,
- The invalid removal of faculties and assignment of Reverend Richard Kirkham,
- The scandal caused by the bishop’s release to the newspaper of a private letter from one priest to a priest of another diocese in a manner that was redacted, incomplete, defamatory and fraudulent in the sense that the signature published was clearly not that of the author of the letter,The sudden resignation of Reverend Gary Picou, Pastor of St Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish,
- The sudden resignation of Reverend Jeff Poirot, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Wichita Falls,
- Lack of due process and transparency in the removal of Reverend Genaro Mayorga Reyes of All Saints Parish, (November 2018),
- The forced resignation of Catholic Charities Executive Director of Fort Worth (April 2022),
- The public display of confidential information about the Carmelite Nuns from the Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity in Arlington, TX before any definitive decision has been reached about their situation,
- The banning of daily mass against all the Discalced Carmelite Nuns from the Monastery,
- The lawsuit filed by the Discalced Carmelite Nuns for overstepping his authority,
- The dismissal of Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes of the Discalced Carmelite Nuns monastery (May 2023), and
- Numerous acts of harm to individuals who wish to keep their situations private.
Bishop Olson’s above behaviors and actions demonstrate a disregard for the letter and spirit of ecclesiastical discipline as set forth in Canons 381-394. Through his own actions, he reveals that he does not hold himself to the requirements of canon law.
Your office has received hundreds of letters and emails about incidents regarding Bishop Olson. The Catholic faithful are hereby requesting an apostolic visitation and full investigation into Bishop Olson’s actions and behaviors and plead that he be held fully accountable for what we believe to be the misuse of his ordained office.
Respectfully and Humbly Submitted,
Laity in Unity Foundation, and
Laity of Fort Worth Catholic Diocese (signatures attached)
CC: Most Reverend Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A.
Prefect: Dicastery for Bishops
Piazzo delta Congregazioni
Piazza Pio XII, 10
00193 Roma, Italy
Most Reverend Pietro Cardinal Parolin
Secretariat of State
Paiazzo Apostolico VaticanoCitta del Vaticano 00120