The Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) has stated that not all the sisters of the Clarisse monastery of Belorado and Orduña subscribe to the decision of the abbess to leave the Catholic Church, and has encouraged the nuns to express their position freely and in accordance with their conscience. In a message from the episcopal commission for Consecrated Life of the CEE, the bishops support the statement issued by the archdiocese of Burgos and the diocese of Vitoria, and extend a hand to the Clarisse nuns of Belorado and Orduña, while deeply regretting the declaration of rupture with the Catholic Church by the abbess. They request that each sister of the monasteries, in the exercise of their freedom of conscience, may express their position regarding the abbess’s decision, indicating that not all the sisters seem to agree with her letter.
The bishops explain that the content of the letter, released on May 13, aligns with the beliefs of those who deny the validity of the Second Vatican Council and are known as “sedevacantists”. They add that the text is associated with a group considered a sect by several experts. They criticize the offensive and accusatory tone and the use of terms such as “submission” to a false bishop and alleged leader of a sect. These terms, according to the CEE, do not reflect the usual way these sisters communicate and are now being expressed not only in the abbess’s written words but also through the media, creating confusion and possibly based on deception.
The episcopal commission for Consecrated Life states that the grievances cited in the letter have solutions and they do not see a proportionate relationship between the causes presented and the conclusion reached. They urge the nuns to engage in dialogue with bishops, priests, consecrated individuals, and other members of the Catholic Church who, following the truth and in communion with Pope Francis, seek the well-being of the monastery and each Clarisse sister. The CEE encourages openness and communication to resolve any issues and maintain unity within the community.
The Clarisse nuns of Vitoria are planning to take legal action to annul the sale of the Orduña monastery (Bizkaia) to the Clarisse nuns of Belorado (Burgos) as they believe that they should not be allowed to keep the Church’s properties after leaving for a sect. The vicar for Consecrated Life of the Diocese of Vitoria, Manuel Gómez Tavira, accompanied the leaders of the Vitoria convent to the law firm that will handle the legal action, stating that since the Belorado nuns “have joined a sect, they should not be allowed to keep the properties” of the Catholic Church. The issue is not about money, according to Gómez Tavira, referencing the statements of the Belorado abbess who called out for Catholics who feel disappointed with the Church in recent decades to listen to their concerns about perceived “heresies” in the Vatican.
Gómez Tavira emphasized that the Belorado nuns are no longer true Clarisse sisters. The legal action will argue based on the non-payment by the Burgos congregation, mentioning that if this hadn’t happened, the Vitoria sisters would not have asked for any money because both groups were Clarisse, but now the Belorado nuns have deviated from their true identity. The law firm will file a civil question exercising a condition in the sale contract, potentially resulting in the cancellation of the sale agreement, requiring the Belorado sisters in Orduña to leave the convent. The lawsuit might be presented in a court in the Burgos town of Briviesca.
