Eviction of schismatic Poor Clares postponed for the fourth time

Briviesca - For almost a year, the administrator appointed by the Vatican has been trying to evict the schismatic ex-nuns of Belorado from their convent. Despite a successful lawsuit, the eviction is dragging on. Now the Apostolic Commissioner is trying something new.

Published on 01.10.2025 at 11:56 –

The eviction of the schismatic Poor Clares from their former convent in Belorado, Spain, continues to be delayed. The Apostolic Commissioner over the monastery, Archbishop Mario Iceta of Burgos, has therefore submitted an application for provisional enforcement, as the archdiocese has announced. The press release points out that the eviction has already been postponed four times due to various problems and appeals. Due to the deadlines for appeals, the renewed postponement of the eviction was foreseeable.

Delays occurred because it was initially not possible to reach all of the former nuns and therefore it was not possible to summon them to court. Later, the women's lawyer filed an application for recusal against the judge, which was rejected by the competent provincial court. At the end of July, the court ruled against the ex-nuns, but the judgement is not yet final. The convent was last due to be evacuated on 3 October, but after renewed appeals by the former nuns, this date was also cancelled.

No success for mediation attempts

In its judgement, the Briviesca court found that the defendants were unable to prove that they legally owned the convent. The women had consistently lost this and other proceedings. Among other things, they wanted to establish that Iceta had not been legally appointed administrator by the Vatican.

The conflict surrounding the Poor Clares of Belorado has continued to escalate in recent months. In May 2024, the sisters published a manifesto in which they renounced the Catholic Church and declared that they would not recognise any popes after Pius XII (1939-1958). In the course of the conflict, they joined various alleged schismatic bishops and were excommunicated due to their schism. All attempts at conciliation by the papal commissioner Iceta failed. The Archdiocese of Burgos had already filed an action for eviction in September last year, as the excommunicated sisters are still on the property. The eviction was originally scheduled for the end of January. (fxn)