[Ammi]

Three Catholic nuns who ran away from their retirement home in Austria to squat in their former convent say they have not committed a crime.

Sisters Rita, Regina and Bernadette - all now aged in their 80s - spent decades living and teaching at the Goldenstein Monastery in Elsbethen, near Salzburg.

The trio were taken from the convent two years ago on the grounds they could not live independently and relocated to a retirement home in the nearby town, Oberalm.

But the nuns claimed they were taken against their will and insist they are capable of caring for themselves.

Earlier this month, the nuns returned to their old convent with the help of some former students and a locksmith.

"It's not a break-in," Sister Bernadette said.

"The basis for this is our contract of transfer, which states that we can stay here until the end of our lives.

"And we are now exercising that right again, that we can indeed stay here until the end of our lives.

"This is not a crime or anything like that."

The building had fallen into disrepair and kitchen and elevator were blocked off.

But water and electricity have since been restored to the site.

The nuns are financially dependent on outside help because their bank accounts have been frozen.

But former students and volunteers have been supporting the nuns with food and other assistance.

A doctor has also visited to check on the sisters' health.

"It's simply a matter of audacity," Sister Bernadette said.

"They promised us things and we believed everything, we believed that we would never be lied to.

"And then the whole contract turns out to be a lie, because everything has been revoked."

But the convent's Provost called the move "completely incomprehensible" as the rooms were no longer usable" and did not meet "the requirements for proper care".

https://www.itv.com/news/2025-09-13/...ndoned-convent

Youtube video

[Oliver_W]

That would make a fun musical.

[Beso]

It's a big house for 3 folk...

Who aren't venturing upstairs anytime soon.




Especially with that level of fitness.


I will get my coat.

[Livia]

Who cares about elderly people? Every Sunday at the care home in my local village, I see the expensive cars pull up so they can go and visit their elderly parent for an hour. Give them to someone else to look after. It's something I just don't understand. At what age do people's lives become disposable, I wonder?

I hope people get behind these women.

[arista]

[To squat in their former convent say they have
not committed a crime.]


Get the Head Priest to tell them
they need to do what they are told


[A head priest, also known as a chief priest
or high priest, is the highest-ranking religious leader
within a particular temple, shrine,
or religious organization.]

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

That would make a fun musical.

…honestly I’m sure that no one is going to fall into the Trapp of making a musical featuring nuns…

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by arista

[To squat in their former convent say they have
not committed a crime.]


Get the Head Priest to tell them
they need to do what they are told


[A head priest, also known as a chief priest
or high priest, is the highest-ranking religious leader
within a particular temple, shrine,
or religious organization.]

…the highest ranking religious leader is their God, there is no higher and I’m sure that he always goes with them…as they say, it’s not a break in, it’s not a crime…they’re returning to their ‘family’ home …

[Beso]

Originally Posted by Livia

Who cares about elderly people? Every Sunday at the care home in my local village, I see the expensive cars pull up so they can go and visit their elderly parent for an hour. Give them to someone else to look after. It's something I just don't understand. At what age do people's lives become disposable, I wonder?

I hope people get behind these women.

It seems to be the richer you are, the less you care about your parents.

And yes, they need a helping hand along the way.