Court orders women admitted to La Laguna’s Christ Brotherhood

The Court of First Instance No. 2 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has ordered the execution of the judgment that declared null the article of the Brotherhood of the Cristo de La Laguna’s statutes that barred women from becoming members. The tribunal holds that the Brotherhood’s statutes violate the fundamental rights of equality, non‑discrimination on the basis of sex, and freedom of association.

“I hereby declare the nullity of Article 1 of the Statutes … in the part that excludes women as applicants for membership.”
— Execution order, Court of First Instance No. 2

The resolution obliges the Pontifical, Royal and Venerable Brotherhood of the Holy Christ of La Laguna to, within one month, annul Article 1 of its statutes that excludes women and to remove any obstacle to their incorporation.

This order implements a prior judgment that was upheld by the Constitutional Court, which also found that the Brotherhood’s statutes infringed the same fundamental rights.

Execution and warning to the Brotherhood

The Justice Administration Officer has specified the executive measures by decree, warning that coercive fines will be imposed if the Brotherhood fails to comply. The one‑month deadline begins from the notification of the decree. Execution will be monitored by the Court of First Instance No. 2, and the decree provides a five‑day window to lodge a review petition before the same court, in accordance with current legislation.