Its hard to maintain your dignity when you are bent over grasping your ankles. I should know...I am an American taxpayer.
I've always thought the very point of spanking was the temporary loss of dignity due to having misbehaved. The physical pain should (IMO) be minimized, but the awareness of having screwed up should be maximized. The indignity lasts longer and has a better effect than the temporary physical discomfort.
All due respect to His Holiness, but I think he's wrong on this one. I agree it's okay to spank, but the child should understand they caused their own loss of dignity.
Incidentally, I never actually had to spank my daughter. The mere threat (of loss of dignity) was apparently sufficient to keep her in line. But I count myself as fortunate, as she's a very well mannered young woman now, and was very well behaved as a child.