With the help of a locksmith and a Communist, nuns re-take the monastery from which they were evicted
The nuns of Goldenstein re-occupy their monastery
The nuns' return to Goldenstein on Thursday was highly unorthodox.
The three elderly nuns of Goldenstein are back in their monastery outside the city gates of Salzburg – albeit in a highly unorthodox manner.
Sister Rita couldn't and didn't want to hold back her tears – tears of joy, mind you! "Now we're back and hopefully we won't have to leave again," said the nun. Together with her fellow sisters Bernadette and Regina, she returned home to Goldenstein Monastery on Thursday – against the wishes of their spiritual superiors and in a somewhat legally dubious manner.
Involuntarily placed in a home
As a reminder: At the behest of the Vatican, the three nuns bequeathed the Elsbethen Monastery in 2022, half of which each goes to the Archdiocese of Salzburg and half to Reichersberg Abbey. According to the transfer agreement, the nuns assumed they would be allowed to spend their final years in Goldenstein, the place where they had lived for several decades and run the middle school. This was a false assumption: Against their will, the women ended up in a retirement home.
"We were shipped off," the nuns said. According to their accounts, the women weren't even allowed to take their personal belongings with them. They lost access to their accounts overnight, and nearly €50,000 in cash is said to have disappeared. Reichersberg Abbey and the archdiocese have vehemently denied all allegations.
Locksmith unlocked the monastery door
The nuns' return to Goldenstein on Thursday was therefore highly unorthodox. Former students and companions organized a moving service that brought the women from the retirement home back to the monastery. A locksmith unlocked the locked doors to the nuns' chambers.
We don't feel like squatters or burglars. All of this belongs to us; we belong here. Even if, strictly legally, it might look different.
"We are so grateful to everyone. It's incredibly wonderful to be home again," said Sister Bernadette. And: "We don't feel like squatters or burglars. We simply belong here in Goldenstein."
For the time being, the nuns have neither water nor electricity in their rooms. Companions brought them sufficient drinking water and emergency generators on Thursday. "At the moment, they have everything they need. We'll see what happens next," said Christina Wirtenberger, a former student of Goldenstein. Addressing the Archdiocese and Reichersberg Abbey, she reiterated: "Negotiations must now take place about how to proceed."
Police visit to the monastery
In any case, the police visited the monastery late in the afternoon. Provost Markus Grasl of Reichersberg Abbey expressed his "perplexity" over the latest developments. He told the Krone newspaper: "The rooms in the monastery are no longer usable and in no way meet the requirements of orderly care." He could only "strongly advise" the sisters to return to the retirement home.
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A Communist helps the nuns of Goldenstein
A Communist, hand in hand with representatives of the Catholic Church – that's definitely a rarity! Salzburg's Deputy Mayor Kay-Michael Dankl (KPÖ plus) traveled to Elsbethen on Friday and paid a visit to the three elderly nuns.
"The sisters have called this home for decades; they should be allowed to spend their final years here," he assured the women of his full support.
What does he mean by that specifically? "As is well known, we donate a portion of our politicians' salaries and have a KPÖ social fund. We can certainly help the nuns," says Dankl. And: "I will contact our Archbishop Franz Lackner. He must finally take action on this matter."
A very valuable property"
Dankl's demand to the clergyman: "The three elderly sisters should be allowed to spend their final years in Goldenstein – even if this is a very valuable property that the church would certainly like to use for other purposes.
Betrayal by their own Order who claim "disproportionate" protest by the nuns
Opposition also came from the Augustinian nuns. President of the Congregation Beate Brandt spoke to the church internet portal katholisch.de of a "disproportionate" protest by the nuns. She had personally witnessed the excessive demands placed on the sisters in their everyday lives. The move to the retirement home was logical and in line with medical recommendations. "It was time to recognise this and accept the new living situation," Brandt warned.
Sister has neither covered herself in charity nor glory
Cathcon: They should make a film about this. A storyline worthy of Don Camillo. Above all pray for them!
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