Children beaten in religious commune

CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island — Children living at a religious commune on Prince Edward Island were regularly beaten — sometimes struck as many as 39 times — according to testimony in a trial here.

Lucille Poulin, 78, a former Roman Catholic nun, is charged with assaulting five children ages 8 to 14 who lived in the commune in rural Prince Edward Island. The sensational court case is testing the boundaries of religious freedom.

The mother of some of the children testified that the physical punishment of youngsters with a heavy wooden stick was reasonable because it is sanctioned by the Bible. She said children as young as 2 were beaten. Under cross-examination, she quoted biblical passages to justify the actions. All nine of the children who lived at the commune have been removed by social services or have fled the group and are living with relatives.