From one day to the next, sisters Bernadette (88), Rita (82) and Regina (86) became world famous earlier this year. Just about every news site wrote about the stunt they pulled on September 4th. Then they had had enough of the rest home in Elsbethen (in Salzburg, Austria) in which they said they were forced to stay, that they decided to flee.
It looked like the scenario of a movie, because their flight was not the only one. With the support of their walkers, a locksmith and some students and teachers, they then returned to the abandoned Goldenstein Castle in Elsbethen, where the monastery was located that they had been forced to leave not long before by their superior. The three squatted in their old monastery and moved back in, against all the rules.
Rebellious nuns are allowed to remain in a monastery, but they must leave Instagram
The story shows how attached they are to their monastery. They lived and worked there for decades, and absolutely wanted to stay there. But according to Markus Grasi, a local leader of the Roman Catholic Church and the superior of the sisters, the transfer was necessary. “It was no longer possible for the three nuns to continue living in the monastery due to their old age and health.” He strongly denied that the decision had been taken unilaterally without hearing the sisters.
Battle achieved
But perseverance wins: on Friday they received official permission to stay in the castle. Their superiors say that they will receive sufficient medical care and practical assistance to live there safely. A priest will also visit regularly so that they can still attend enough mass celebrations.
A series of conditions are imposed on the sisters. For example, sharing their adventures on social media is no longer allowed, no visitors are allowed and a contract has also been signed stating that the three must return to the retirement home if their health deteriorates. “Now it is up to the sisters,” a spokesperson for Grasi said on Friday.
The stair lift in the abandoned castle does not always work. © EPA
The nuns reject those conditions and claim that they were drawn up unilaterally, without consulting them. “In particular, the promise reported in the media that the sisters would be allowed to remain in the monastery has no legal force due to the addition of the clause: ‘until further notice’ and is therefore legally worthless,” read a statement from their fans.
According to the statement, the sisters find it annoying that they say the contract can be compared to a restraining order. “It is limiting,” it sounds. Moreover, they indicate that there is “no legal basis whatsoever.” The sisters are open to an agreement with the Archdiocese of Salzburg by “finally entering into dialogue with those involved.” To be continued without a doubt.
© EPA