Excommunicated Spanish nuns defy eviction from historic convent

Wednesday 30 July 2025 - 11:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Excommunicated Spanish nuns defy eviction from historic convent

A group of Spanish nuns, excommunicated by the Catholic Church for aligning with a controversial sect, appeared in court on Tuesday, vowing to resist eviction from their centuries-old convent in Belorado, northern Spain.

A year-long standoff

The dispute began in May 2024 when the nuns of the Order of Saint Clare split from the Vatican over disagreements regarding property rights and doctrinal issues. The group claims church authorities blocked their attempt to purchase a new convent, prompting their defection. Since then, they have pledged allegiance to an excommunicated ultraconservative priest who rejects the legitimacy of any pope after Pius XII, who died in 1958.

The Archbishop of Burgos has demanded the nuns vacate the 15th-century Santa Clara convent, arguing they forfeited their legal right to remain there following their excommunication.

Legal battle intensifies

On Tuesday, a court in Briviesca heard arguments from both sides. Representing the eight nuns, Sister Paloma insisted the convent belongs to their community. "We are not isolated nuns; we are a legal entity, and they are our possessions," she told reporters outside the courthouse.

Their lawyer, Florentino Aláez, affirmed their determination to appeal any unfavorable ruling. Meanwhile, the archbishopric’s lawyer, Natxo de Gamón, maintained that the excommunicated nuns no longer have legal grounds to occupy the convent and should be removed.

A defiant stance

The nuns, determined to remain in the convent, have framed the dispute as a fight for their rights against the Church hierarchy. The court’s decision, expected in the coming weeks, could set a significant precedent in conflicts involving religious orders and property disputes.