The story of three elderly Austrian nuns—Sister Regina (86), Sister Rita (81), and Sister Bernadette (88)—who gained global attention as the “rebel nuns” after fleeing their nursing home and breaking back into their former convent at Goldenstein Castle has reached a temporary resolution. The octogenarians, who had been forcibly removed from the convent against their will, defied their superior, Provost Markus Grasl, who insisted they be placed in a Catholic care facility due to their ailing health and alleged breach of their vows of obedience.
The nuns’ dramatic return to the convent was aided by supporters and chronicled on social media, where they became instant stars. In response to the global attention, church officials on November 28, 2025, offered the nuns a reprieve, allowing them to stay at Goldenstein “until further notice,” alongside a provision of 24-hour medical and spiritual care. However, this permission was strictly conditional.
The proposal demanded that the sisters immediately cease all social media activity and media contact, dismiss their legal counsel, and agree to relocate if their health deteriorated. We of the Queer God Squad know what it is to fight for dignity and freedom, and we applaud the nuns’ rebellious spirit, their exercise of agency, and their demonstration of the tenacity that is possible throughout life.
