A religious commune leader in Prince Edward Island who disciplined children by beating them with a wooden paddle has been found guilty of assault.

Lucille Poulin, 78, was convicted on Friday on all five counts.

Lucille Poulin
Lucille Poulin

Justice David Jenkins said the use of "the rod" went beyond spanking, to beating the children.

He said he believed the testimony of five children, who said the beatings left them with bruises and even led them to pass out.

Poulin said she was just doing what God told her to do.

"It's not easy. But God says to do it," she testified. She said religious scriptures warn that witholding the rod spoils children.

The former nun said she never struck the children in anger or with vindictiveness. She said the force she used was not excessive.

The children were removed from the commune in Hazel Grove, P.E.I., in July 2001 after police learned about the beatings.

During testimony, the children and some adults who left the commune described life at the religious retreat as brutal.

They said the children were isolated from society, forced to work long hours in the commune restaurant and frequently beaten.

"She really had us for her work slaves," one boy told the court during his testimony.

The case has again focused attention on Canada's spanking law, which the Supreme Court is in the process of reviewing.

The current law allows teachers, parents and other caregivers to discipline children with physical force, as long as the force is "reasonable under the circumstances."