Michael Fors Olson
Michael Fors Olson | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Fort Worth | |
_(cropped).jpg) Bishop Olson in 2018 | |
| Archdiocese | San Antonio |
| Diocese | Fort Worth |
| Appointed | November 19, 2013 |
| Installed | January 29, 2014 |
| Predecessor | Kevin Vann |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 3, 1994 by Joseph Patrick Delaney |
| Consecration | January 29, 2014 by Gustavo García-Siller, Joseph Fiorenza, and Kevin Vann |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 29, 1966 |
| Motto | Veritatis splendor (Splendor of truth) |
| Styles of Michael Fors Olson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Religious style | Bishop |
Michael Fors Olson (born June 29, 1966) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He has been serving as bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth in Texas since 2013.
Biography
Early life and education
Michael Olson was born on June 29, 1966, in Park Ridge, Illinois, to Ronald G. and Janice (Fetzer) Olson. He was raised in Des Plaines, Illinois, where he attended St. Mary's School. Deciding to become a priest, Olsen entere Quigley Preparatory Seminary North in Chicago. When the Olson family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, Michael Olson resumed his seminary studies there.[1]
After finishing his early studies, Olson traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the Catholic University of America. He was a awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy there in 1988 and a Master of Arts degree in philosophy in 1989.
Olson returned to Texas in 1989 to attend the University of St. Thomas in Houston. He later received Master of Theology and Master of Divinity degrees from St. Thomas in 1994.[2][1]
Priesthood
Olson was ordained a priest at St. Patrick Cathedral in Fort Worth by Bishop Joseph Delaney for the Diocese of Fort Worth on June 3, 1994.[3] After his ordination, the diocese assigned Olson as parochial vicar at St. Michael's Parish in Bedford, Texas.[1]
In 1997, Olson traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, for doctoral studies at the Center for Health Care Ethics in the Catholic Tradition at Saint Louis University. He then went to Rome to attend the Alphonsian Academy at the Pontifical Lateran University. Olson was awarded a Doctor of Moral Theology degree from the academy in 2001.[1][2]
After returning to Texas in 2001, Olson was appointed as formation director at St. Mary's Seminary in Houston. He left St. Mary's in 2006 after Bishop Kevin William Vann appointed Olson as vicar general of the diocese. In 2008, he was transferred to Holy Trinity Seminary in Irving, Texas to serve as its rector. Pope Benedict XVI named Olson as a chaplain of his holiness in 2010.[2][1]
Bishop of Fort Worth
Pope Francis named Olson as bishop of Fort Worth on November 19, 2013. He was consecrated on January 29, 2014, by Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller. Archbishop Emeritus Fiorenza and Bishop Kevin Vann acted as the co-consecrators.[3] The liturgy was celebrated in the Fort Worth Convention Center.[3]
In early 2023, Olson visited the Most Holy Trinity Monastery in Arlington, Texas, to investigate allegations that Reverend Mother Teresa Agnes Gerlach had violated her vow of chastity with a priest. Cloistered since she was a teenager, Gerlach was confined to a wheelchair on an intravenous infusion for severe gastroparesis.[4] Gerlach admitted to inappropriate communications with the priest, but denied that there was any physical contact. The sisters later put restrictions on Olson's access to Gerlach after what they believed were his heavy-handed interrogations. In response, Olson in April 2023 dismissed Gerlach from the order. The sisters sued Olson, but a judge dismissed the case in June 2023. The sisters banned Olson from the property, prompting him in August 2023 to close the monastery to the public. The sisters defied his order.[5] As of September 2023, the Vatican was investigating the dispute.[6]
Olson is a panel member of American Religious Town Hall and a frequent radio guest on Guadalupe Radio Network and The Catholic Current.
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e "Bishop Michael F. Olson's Biography". fwdioc.org. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ a b c "Pope names seminary rector bishop of Fort Worth, Texas". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
- ^ a b c "Bishop Michael Fors Olson [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ Pezzulo, Mary; Magnificat, Steel (2023-12-19). "A Follow-Up On The Carmelites Who Sued Bishop Olson". Steel Magnificat. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Texas Carmelites defy bishop's order to close their doors to the faithful". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
- ^ "Who has authority over Arlington monastery? Religion, politics expert weighs in". KERA News. 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
External links
