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Stubborn nuns evicted
The eviction of 64 former Bethany nunsand postulates from their convent took place yesterday in the peaceful area of Kazimierz Dolny, 140 km south-east of Warsaw. Over 100 police officers, Catholic priests, negotiators, debt collectors, and locals participated in the action, ensuring that events transpired without any violence. It seems that the greatest fear of church and police authorities, that the former nuns and the Franciscans who have joined them would commit mass suicide, had always been an unlikely outcome. This ain't no Branch Davidian cult - just a bunch of stubborn delusional nuns.

Background
The Congregation of Sisters of the Bethany Family was started 77 years ago. Their primary vocation was seen to aid priests in their daily parish services. In addition they teach religion and visit the sick. They work abroad as well as having numerous other convents throughout Poland.

According to the Warsaw Voice 10 nuns were excommunicated over 2 years ago after running into conflict with the Vatican when their Mother Superior, Jadwiga Ligocka, allegedly had spiritual visions. She claimed she was being directed by the Holy Spirit to change the order into a contemplative one. The Vatican investigator reported her behaviour as 'disturbing'

As a result of their defying a Vatican order to leave the convent, 10 members of the order were reprimanded by excommunication. They continued to refuse to leave the religious house and spent over 2 years holed up inside with 50 supporters (mainly trainee and ex-nuns), including a controversial religious brother, 42-year-old Franciscan monk Roman Komaryczko.

Indecency in the nunnery?
This priest has run into trouble before with his superiors for alleged sex offences. Media reports here have claimed the priest has started "a sect" in the convent, declaring himself the guru, and has sexually molested former Bethany nuns.

It's quite possible the latter allegation is bullshit, though Andrzej Franc Dominican Information Center on New Religions and Sects which monitors cults in Poland, who had earlier contact with the sisters in Kazimierz Dolny, believes the nuns were influenced in a sectarian fashion.

Franc commented: 'I say this with absolute responsibility. They have been manipulated, being totally isolated from ouside reality. They were imbeded with a sense of uniqueness, of a privileged relationship with Christ, personified by their Franciscan leader.'

Furthermore, allegations are rife that the Franciscan priest claimed his sexual conduct was a form of "therapy to bring the nuns closer to God." Whether this is true or just media sensationalism remains to be seen.

When nuns go mad
So since they had been banished by the church, the militant nuns had barricaded themselves into the convent, refusing to abide by court orders that they leave the premises voluntarily. Ultimately, the former nuns own order took a court case to get an official eviction of the premises to reclaim their property. That eviction has now concluded.

The Bethany nuns Polish provincialite paid 56,000 zl. for the eviction to be carried out. According to TVP Info, approximately 65 people are in the convent, including a mother and her 2 month old child. There are up to 100 police officers accompanying court-appointed eviction officers who are negotiating the end of the siege.

Nuns on the run
Developments since the eviction have now taken a surreal twist. All but one of the nuns has gone missing from the 3 places where they were initially brought to by the police. Their families are also allegedly not aware of their whereabouts.