The group, Laity in Unity, is asking the Catholic faithful to sign a new petition that is calling for the removal of Bishop Michael F. Olson from the Diocese of Ft. Worth. They list the items below as to why he needs to be removed. We agree that it is time to remove Bishop Olson and are calling our supporters to sign this petition.
- 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.