KANSAS
KCTV

[with video]

By Chris Oberholtz, Multimedia Producer
By Brix Fowler, Multimedia Journalist

OVERLAND PARK, KS (KCTV/AP) –

To spank or not to spank.

It is an issue parents have dealt with for years. But now those in favor of it have a powerful supporter after Pope Francis made his stance clear being in favor of spanking.

“Spanking is a very simple form of punishment,” said Laticia Vargas.

Vargas knows about abuse. She says her biological father used to beat her, but she believes what Pope Francis is talking about is not abuse.

“I have been hit in the face by my previous male influence, and it does a lot damage. It is humiliating and it causes a lot of problems with my self-esteem,” she said.

That is why her new father figure, Larry Reyes, refuses to spank her, but he has spanked two of his other…