A group of 16 nuns residing in the northern Spanish town of Belorado have severed ties with the Vatican, alleging that they are being targeted by the Catholic Church over a contentious property disagreement. Known members of the St Claire Order, these nuns publicised their decision to break away from Catholic orthodox through a 70-page digital statement. They expressed therein that Pope Pius XII, who died in 1958, was the last rightful pope.
The written proclamation, confirmed by the group’s abbess Sr Isabel de la Trinidad, predicted: “We will be labelled as religious dissenters, mad, and many more defamatory and unpleasant things. Do not trust them this time, don’t let them mislead you.”
The nuns in question are currently under the authority of Pablo de Rojas Sánchez-Franco, commonly recognised as a “genuine bishop of the Holy Church”. Sánchez-Franco stands as the head of the Devout Union of the Apostle Saint Paul, a religious body deemed a sect by the Catholic Church. In 2019, he was excommunicated by the Bilbao bishop. According to reports, he has remained within the convent with the nuns since their contentious declaration, despite one nun’s departure from the building due to her disapproval of their behaviour.
The nuns, famed for their chocolate desserts, look to purchase the Orduña monastery, approximately 95km north in the Basque Country. The Betorian archbishopric made claims that an agreement had been made by the nuns to pay €1.2 million to a local congregation of nuns for the property. Following a payment of €100,000, further payments ceased, as per the archbishopric. Sr Isabel then assured that a philanthropist would settle the balance, evoking distrust as it seemed this individual did not share close ties to the Catholic Church.
After failing to meet with the Bishop of Vitoria, where the concerned property lies, the sales agreement was nullified. Yet, Sr Isabel filed a legal dispute, contending that her group had already spent a significant sum on refurbishing the monastery.
The sisters issued a communique expressing concern about Vatican interference in their affairs, alleging that the Church doesn’t support their endeavour. A cleric, identified as Jose Ceacero, who has been conducting Mass for the sisters and is considered an ally of Dr. De Rojas Sanchez-Franco, stated to local press that doctrinal disagreements were the core of their disagreement with the church.
He explained that the sisters have recognised that there is a discrepancy between the teachings of the church post the Second Vatican Council and those of the core Catholic doctrine. He also remarked that the local ecclesiastical authorities have been purposely causing hardship for the sisters.
The father of one of the sisters, Julio, acknowledged the existence of a property dispute to Spanish TV, however, he insisted that the crucial issue was the evolution in their religious belief and practice.
The nuns have used Instagram to share images and footage amid the ongoing contention. A video displaying some of the sisters alongside a group of seniors, all cheerfully facing the camera, was posted. One of the sisters assured viewers in a video that they were not being forcibly separated from their families, saying, “We’re doing well, we’re not being held apart from our families against our will.”