The Spanish archdiocese of Burgos' eviction action against excommunicated nuns occupying the Belorado convent has been successful.
According to the archdiocese, the competent court ruled in favour of the action on Wednesday and ordered the building to be vacated.
In addition to the nuns, who were excommunicated by Archbishop Mario Iceta in June, all other persons unlawfully staying in the convent must also vacate the convent.
With the excommunication, the women are no longer considered religious, and they are also excluded from the sacraments and from the ecclesiastical community.
If the court's decision becomes legally binding, the eviction is scheduled for 23 January.
The court has instructed the police to determine who is currently in the monastery.
According to media reports, in addition to the nuns, members of a "Society of St. Joseph" that is not recognised by the church are also present, including the Brazilian Rodrigo Henrique Ribeiro da Silva.
According to his own account, he is a bishop. However, he attributes his ordination to a bishop who is not recognised by the Catholic Church.
Care of elderly nuns ensured
Five elderly sisters in need of care, who are still in the convent but have not been excommunicated as they did not take part in the schism of the other sisters, are not affected.
The responsible order of Poor Clares has offered to take care of the five sisters.
According to the information provided, the sisters have ten days to appeal against the decision.
Only appeals relating to the question of whether the defendants or the archdiocese have a legal claim to ownership of the convent property are admissible.
The convent is not the private property of the sisters, but church property.
Attempts by the sisters to convert the convent into a civil law association and thus retain control of the convent have previously failed.
Attempts at mediation by Archbishop Iceta, appointed by the Vatican as papal representative over the convent, failed and the dispute over the convent continued to escalate.