The St. Augustine High School controversy nearing its' end.

St. Augustine's Raphael loses Rome appeal, must vacate office

Published: Thursday, November 17, 2011, 3:28 PM     Updated: Thursday, November 17, 2011, 4:13 PM

By Bruce Nolan, The Times-Picayune The Times-Picayune

The former president of St. Augustine High School has told supporters he has lost part of an appeal to Rome and must comply with orders from his Josephite superiors to leave New Orleans for reassignment in Baltimore.

 

However, the Rev. John Raphael has asked his superiors whether he can finish the semester here to provide an orderly transition and finish a class he teaches.
A spokesman for the Josephite order was not immediately available for comment.
Raphael emailed the news to alumni, parents and school supporters.
The Josephites in June recalled Raphael to their headquarters in Baltimore in the midst of a dispute over governance at the high school -- specifically, whether to allow the practice of corporal punishment, which the Josephites had banned.
In his stead they appointed a new president, the Rev. Charles Andrus, another Josephite priest who serves as pastor of Blessed Sacrament/St. Joan of Arc parish.

Howerver, Raphael has remained on campus fulfilling the duties of president. He  appealed his transfer in church courts, and appears to have lost at least part of the appeal to the Vatican's Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Raphael's notice to parents and alumni included his letter to the Rev. Willilam Norvel, his Josephite superior, in which Raphael again protested the transfer as "unjust and invalid."
He said he would pursue other elements of his appeal.
But given the Vatican's recent ruling, "It is clear, based on the congregation's response, that I must now comply with your directive to vacate the office of the president of St. Augustine High School and report to Baltimore."
He asked Norvel to allow him to stay long enough to manage a smooth transition.
Troy Henry, the businessman and former president of the St. Augustine board of directors, said the Josephites and local advocates for the school may be close to reaching an out-of-court settlement resolving civil litigation over the governance issues.
Xavier University President Norman Francis has been mediating those talks at the request of U.S. District Court Jay Zainey.
A meeting between the two sides -- perhaps a final settlement meeting -- is scheduled for next week, Henry said.