This story is growing legs of its own: St. Aug, corporal punishment and obedience

St. Augustine president says he will defy orders and stay on the job
Published: Wednesday, June 08, 2011, 6:30 PM Updated: Wednesday, June 08, 2011, 9:12 PM
By Bruce Nolan, The Times-Picayune NOLA.com

The Rev. John Raphael told a cheering crowd of supporters Wednesday evening that he will remain on the job as president of St. Augustine High School in defiance of a weekend order from his religious community that recalled him to Baltimore.



Raphael led much of the public opposition to Archbishop Gregory Aymond's wish to end corporal punishment at the New Orleans school.

The superior general of the Josephites, the religious order of Catholic priests and brothers who founded St. Augustine 60 years ago, dismissed Raphael on Saturday and said he would be transferred to a still-to-be-determined job in Baltimore.

The St. Augustine board of directors announced Wednesday that it wants Raphael to remain as president of the school and does not regard his dismissal by his religious community as legitimate.




St. Augustine High School John Raphael defies order to step down as president

The Rev. John Raphael tells a cheering crowd of supporters Wednesday evening that he will remain on the job as president of St. Augustine High School in defiance of a weekend order from his religious community that recalled him to Baltimore at the school at 2600 AP Tureaud Blvd, Wednesday June 8, 2011.


Troy Henry, a consulting engineer and chairman of the St. Augustine board, told a rally of hundreds of St. Augustine parents and alumni that the board of directors "had not approved the removal of Raphael as president of the school. In fact, we have a contract in place with Father Raphael to serve as the school president. To the extent that Father Raphael is willing and able to perform under his contract with the school, the board intends to honor his contract."

Henry said the board expects to negotiate Raphael's future at St. Augustine with a new leader of the Josephite community. The Catholic order of priests and nuns is expected to elect new leadership within the next two weeks.