Archbishopric asks the judge to expel former Poor Clares of Belorado from the monastery

The Archbishopric of Burgos (Spain) has filed a lawsuit to expel from the Monastery of Belorado the former Poor Clares who separated from the Catholic Church on their own initiative last May and who were excommunicated for committing the crime of schism.

According to The Burgos episcopal see has communicatedthe archbishop, Mons. Mario Iceta, as Pontifical Commissioner appointed by Pope Francis to resolve the situation generated since last May 13, has asked the legal services to file legal action “after a prudent waiting period, verified that there has been no attempt at reconsideration by the former religious women.”

The Archbishopric has defended that they do not have the right to occupy the monastery from the moment the former religious were excommunicated in June “after the previous canonical investigation, and after exhausting the resources that invited them to reconsider their departure from the Catholic Church” through a manifesto published on May 13, considering it a vacant seat since the celebration of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).

The archbishopric emphasizes that throughout these months since the conflict broke out, “it has been learned of the denial of registration in the appropriate registry of the Ministry of the Interior of the associations that the former religious women had created with which they intended to transform the canonical legal entities of the monasteries in civil associations, something that is legally unfeasible.”

The judicial measure taken by the Pontifical Commissioner is presented against “the nine former religious of Belorado”, that is, one less of the ten who were excommunicated.

This confirms the information that in recent days pointed to the departure of Teresa Roca, who had served as vicar of the community under the religious name of Sor Paz and who had left the place approximately a month ago.

Pending the development of the judicial actions undertaken, the Management Commission appointed by the Archbishopric of Burgos reiterates its concern “for the state of health and care of the five older sisters, who make up the monastic community” and is “prepared to attend to all their needs as soon as possible, with the collaboration of the Federation of Poor Clares of Our Lady of Aránzazu and their families.”

Finally, The Archbishopric of Burgos recalls the willingness of the Catholic Church “to help on the path of return to ecclesial communion, where they would be welcomed with delicacy and mercy, in the image of the parable of the prodigal son.”