Three octogenarian nuns who achieved global fame after leaving their care home and returning to their abandoned convent near Hamburg have been given leave to live in the nunnery “until further notice” – provided they stay away from social media, church officials have said.
The rebellious sisters – Bernadette, 88, Regina, 86, and Rita, 82, all former teachers at the school near their convent – moved back into their old home of Goldenstein Castle in Elsbethen in September in defiance of their spiritual superiors.
This story made headlines around the world. It also generated a great deal of affection for the trio, who have built a loyal following on social media, where they post regular reports about their tumultuous experience and happiness upon their return.
They have been helped by local supporters and former pupils, who have provided them with food, clothing, medical care and security and installed a chairlift to enable the three to reach their third-floor cells.
The nuns’ religious superior, Provost Markus Gräsl of Reichersberg Abbey, had argued that the sisters were to be placed in a Catholic care home because they were unable to live safely in the old stone convent. He repeatedly accused them of breaking their vows of obedience, a claim the nuns denied.
However, church officials on Friday said the women could remain at Goldenstein “until further notice” following a motion put forward by Grassl aimed at resolving the dispute. The nuns have yet to agree to the deal.
Church officials have reportedly said that the nuns will be provided with adequate medical care and nursing support, and a priest will be at their disposal for regular mass service. In past months, against the wishes of church authorities, priests have more or less had to be smuggled into the chapel of the convent to pray mass.
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The nuns are reportedly yet to agree on the proposed solution following a meeting with delegations on Wednesday. According to a person close to the nuns, talks are ongoing and a response from their lawyer is expected soon.
The conditions for their stay include cessation of all social media activities, a ban on outside visitors to the convent and settlement of the legal dispute. If the women’s health condition worsens, they will be registered at the Elsbethen Nursing Home and placed on a waiting list there.
“Now it’s up to the sisters,” Grassl spokesman Harald Schieffel told Austrian news agency APA.
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