Principal Joseph Brennan, Jr. of Bishop Hendricken High School in Rhode Island has retired after a video of Brennan using two racial slurs was released, reports the Providence Journal.

In the video, Brennan can be heard saying, "That way, I could take care of the [black slur] and the [Jewish slur]."

Photo: GIPHY

The video was sent out to a local news station and to local NAACP chapter president Jim Vincent.

Brennan worked at the Catholic high school for 40 years. Bishop Thomas J. Tobin noted that he was "stunned" and "profoundly sorry" after he learned of Brennan's "offensive comments." On behalf of the diocese, Tobin said, "Racism is a sin, a grave sin,” and apologized to everyone who was “offended — and rightly so — by the language.”

John A. Jackson, the president of the school, noted that the video had been recorded in secret in his statement on the matter, but said Brennan was nevertheless in the wrong.

"Mr. Brennan was secretly recorded, but clearly the language is inappropriate. We will not tolerate inflammatory language in any context,"Jackson said.

The president also said Brennan had “provided unfailing support for the ideas and mission of our school. He has continually modeled the goal of diversity within the school and during his tenure, Bishop Hendricken has become the most diverse it has ever been in its history.”

Tobin agreed that Brennan's statements seemed "completely out of character for a good man who has the reputation of being a fine Christian gentleman and an exemplary Catholic educator," but said firmly that "expressions of racism will simply not be tolerated by any employee of the Diocese of Providence, its agencies or institutions."

Vincent plans to meet with official from the high school soon; Brennan has not issued any statement outside of his retirement notice.

Principal Joseph Brennan, Jr.

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