Catholic flagellants walk barefoot to mark Easter

(2 Apr 2010) SHOTLIST : 1. Wide of Catholic penitent men walking barefooted in a line and whipping their backs with bamboo pads 2. Close up of man’’s bloodied back as he whips it 3. Mid of penitent men walking and whipping their backs 4. Wide of penitent men standing and whipping their backs in front of church 5. Mid of two women watching procession 6. Mid of penitent men kneeling in front of the church and whipping their backs 7. Close up of bamboo pads on a penitent man’’s bloodied back 8. Various of devotees lying down in street while other people are whipping them 9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Jonathan Tso, vox pop: “People here are really very devout, being to the point of harming themselves just to show their belief and their faith in God.“ 10. Low shot of procession, including a devotee carrying a big wooden cross, symbolising the crucifixion STORYLINE: Catholic penitents in the Philippines carried out their traditional re-enactment of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday - the day that he was crucified, according to the Christian faith. Dozens of Catholic devotees flagelllated themselves in the Easter procession through the village of San Pedro Cutud in Pampanga province. Walking towards their church the devotees hit their bloodied backs with bamboo sticks dangling from a rope in a flagellation rite meant to atone for their sins. Good Friday is part of the Christian Holy Week which ends with Easter Sunday, when Christians celebrate Christ’’s resurrection from the dead. The ritual is a tradition in the farming village which lies about 45 miles (72 kilometres) north of the capital Manila. Participants believe re-enacting Christ’’s suffering is a way to atone for their sins Catholic bishops in the Philippines however have discouraged practices such as self-flagellation and crucifixion in favour of more moderate observances. “Flagellation is a form of penance done even centuries ago. But to do this out of context is wrong. It should not be done as an act of superstition,“ Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, the bishops’’ spokesman, said in a statement. Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: