Religious order vows to end paddling at New Orleans school

NEW ORLEANS (RNS) The religious order that runs the last remaining
Catholic school in the country to use corporal punishment says it will
no longer allow the practice, putting it in line with the Archdiocese of
New Orleans.

The new administration of the Josephites order also affirmed the
recent decision to transfer the Rev. John Raphael, the former president
of St. Augustine Catholic High School, back to Baltimore.

The announcements were made Tuesday (June 21) in a press release.
St. Augustine has been embroiled in controversy for months after the
Josephites' prior leaders imposed a temporary ban on corporal punishment
last July. The ban was supported by New Orleans Archbishop Gregory
Aymond, who called paddling inconsistent with Catholic ethics.