The legal battle surrounding the former nuns of Belorado has entered a precarious modern phase, leaving the small group of ex-religious women in a state of residential instability. Following their departure from the convent in Burgos, the women find themselves drifting between temporary shelters in Toledo and the monastery of Orduña in Bizkaia, struggling to establish a permanent home whereas facing a barrage of criminal investigations.
This period of transition follows a dramatic exit from the Belorado convent, where the women left in the early hours of the morning just hours before a scheduled eviction. Now, the group is characterized by a lack of stability, moving “according to necessity” between a family-provided residence in La Puebla de Montalbán and the Basque monastery. For the ex-nuns, the priority has shifted from maintaining their previous lifestyle to navigating a complex web of judicial proceedings in the courts of Briviesca and Bilbao.
The situation is further complicated by a severe lack of financial resources. Despite launching a fundraising campaign in February to secure a new convent, the group has struggled to raise sufficient funds to rent or purchase a property that would require the necessary renovations to serve as a religious house. The loss of a key income stream—a restaurant in Arriondas, Asturias—following the departure of sor Miryam in January has left the remaining members with limited means to support their independence.
The Legal Limbo of the Orduña Monastery
Central to the current housing dilemma is the status of the monastery of Orduña. While some of the ex-nuns have sought refuge there, the site is subject to its own legal disputes. The Tribunal de Instancia número 1 de Bilbao has suspended an eviction process against the ex-nuns at the Orduña site, pending a final ruling on whether the Archbishop of Burgos, Mario Iceta, holds legal representation as a pontifical commissioner appointed by the Holy See (El País, Jan 28, 2026).
This suspension is critical as it prevents contradictory rulings across different jurisdictions. The judge in Bilbao noted that it is “essential” to clarify the representation of Archbishop Mario Iceta over the monasteries of Belorado, Orduña, and Derio before the eviction proceedings in precarium can continue (El País, Jan 28, 2026). The ex-nuns have challenged the validity of the Archbishop’s appointment, arguing that they should maintain the administration of these properties as an independent legal entity.
For the women, Orduña represents a “provisional” solution. They are aware that moving there permanently would be risky given the ongoing eviction proceedings. They continue to split their time, occasionally returning to the Basque region for court appearances, such as the recent testimonies of sor Sion and sor Israel in Bilbao.
Criminal Investigations and Allegations of Abuse
Beyond the fight for their homes, the ex-nuns are embroiled in several serious criminal cases. In Bilbao, the Juzgado de Instrucción 5 is investigating allegations of coercion, degrading treatment, abandonment, and omission of the duty to rescue. These charges relate to the treatment of elderly nuns who were removed from the Orduña monastery by the Guardia Civil in December.
Simultaneously, the courts in Briviesca are examining financial irregularities. One investigation focuses on the sale of 1.73 kilograms of gold, which reportedly netted 130,000 euros. Another case involves the online sale of artworks belonging to the convent, which led to the arrest of the former abbess and another nun on charges of misappropriation of cultural interest assets (ABC, Jul 30, 2025).
The ex-nuns maintain their innocence and claim to be victims of ecclesiastical pressure. During a hearing in Briviesca, sor Paloma, acting as a spokesperson, described the Archbishop of Burgos as “cowardly” for his absence from the proceedings and asserted that the community of Clarisas—not the pontifical commissioner—should be the legal representatives of the monastery (ABC, Jul 30, 2025).
A Community in Decline: Two Years Since the Cisma
The current instability is the culmination of a process that began in May 2024. On May 8, 2024, the group signed a “Catholic Manifesto” and a letter announcing their departure from the Catholic Church, citing a desire to separate from the “conciliar Church.” This act of schism led to their official excommunication on June 22, 2024.
The group’s numbers have dwindled over time. Of the ten nuns who originally signed the manifesto and were excommunicated, only seven remain. Two members left the group in the summer of 2024 and subsequently had their excommunications revoked by the Archbishop of Burgos. A third member, sor Miryam, distanced herself from the community in early 2025.
Timeline of Key Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| May 8, 2024 | Signing of the Catholic Manifesto and announcement of departure from the Church. |
| June 22, 2024 | Official excommunication of the participating nuns. |
| July 29, 2025 | Hearing at the Briviesca court regarding the eviction of the Belorado monastery (ABC, Jul 30, 2025). |
| January 26, 2026 | Bilbao court suspends the eviction of the Orduña monastery (El País, Jan 28, 2026). |
| February 10, 2026 | Scheduled date for the forced eviction from the Belorado monastery. |
As the group approaches the second anniversary of their schism, they remain in a state of flux. With no permanent residence and multiple criminal cases pending, the former nuns of Belorado continue to navigate a precarious existence, caught between their religious convictions and the rigid requirements of Spanish civil and criminal law.
The next critical checkpoint will be the resolution of the representation dispute in Bilbao, which will determine if the ex-nuns can legally remain in the Orduña monastery or if they will face another forced eviction.
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