This Signal is Set by the Nuns of Goldenstein

The three elderly nuns from Goldenstein in Salzburg, who caused a worldwide stir with their unauthorized return to the convent, are now withdrawing from social media and thereby signaling for the first time a willingness to resolve the deadlocked situation. The background to the withdrawal from Instagram and Facebook "effective immediately and until further notice" is an ongoing involvement of the Holy See with the convent dispute, informed Kathpress on Wednesday.

This step was deliberately taken as a sign of goodwill, explained the nuns' legal representative, canon lawyer Wolfgang F. Rothe. The sisters wanted to demonstrate that they were not clinging to rigid positions but had been open to discussions and seeking a solution since the beginning of the conflict. Such a dialogue had not yet materialized.

Nuns of Goldenstein approached Dicastery

The convent women approached the responsible Vatican religious authority, the Dicastery, on December 2. On December 11, they were informed that a "just, humane, and sustainable solution" was being worked on, which would consider both their rights as religious women and the church's responsibility. With the now "very friendly" contact from the Dicastery, a basis for dialogue had been established for the first time. The sisters were, of course, ready to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Holy See.

The renunciation of public activities is intended to underscore this trust in the resolution process. The Vatican did not demand this step but merely invited a reduction in external activities, said Rothe. The religious women hoped that the Holy See would ensure their ecclesiastical and state rights and enable them a peaceful future in the Goldenstein convent.

Furthermore, the nuns emphasized that they had never operated the social media accounts under their name themselves. Neither posts nor comments were brought to their attention in advance or authorized by them. They bear no responsibility for content that continues to be published under these accounts. A continuation is expressly against their will. However, according to their own statements, without the public attention, they would have been "helplessly exposed to the ruthlessness and arbitrariness of our superior."

Numerous followers on Instagram

The case of the over 80-year-old religious women had also attracted international attention in recent months. They had returned to their former convent, which now belongs to the Archdiocese of Salzburg and Stift Reichersberg, against the will of their superior, who was appointed as Apostolic Commissioner, after a previous stay in a nursing home. On Instagram, the nuns recently had more than 280,000 followers.

(APA/Red)

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