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I grew up in a very catholic home. The Catholic Church was the ruling authority. What ever the church deems necessary, the church did it. (back in the 60's and 70's)The nuns took it upon themselves to discipline anyway they saw fit and were not held accountable for "wrongful" disciplining. Discipline could be instilled on anyone in the class at anytime, for anything the nun saw offensive. That to me is too much power...anyway the concept that we are sinners and must "pay" was always quoted in my class, sunday school and from the pulpit during homily's. Penance reflects that concept. I am sorry about that pinkie finger, but that nun will show no remorse, superficially, yes, but from the heart, no. Jesus is on the Judgment seat, not the Catholic Church, according to scripture, the price was already paid. No one has to endure "punishment" to be sanctified!

I feel for you and agree. I grew up in a very loving Catholic home, and my mother, who was contantly belittled by nuns who looked at her older brother (who eventually became a bishop)and asked why she couldn't be more like him, took no crap from these women. If we were bad, my mom was there finding out the problem, if we were punished unfairly, BOTH my mom and dad were there. The old women may have been on power trips but my parents were very involved as well. This was the beginning of mother's who worked and not all of them were involved.