Philippines flagellators defy pleas

It's an annual event the Catholic Church in the Philippines tries hard in vain to discourage.

Some devotees like these in Mabalacat town believe the practice of beating themselves while walking barefoot for hours grants them salvation from sin.

Others carry large wooden crosses to mark Maundy Thursday, leading up to the festival of Easter.

Even that has an element of added pain.

But those who choose to take part say it's a vital part of their religious faith.

SOUNDBITE: CORAZON CABIGTING, HOUSEMAID, SAYING (Kapampangan):

"I do this penance of my own free will because I believe that God will help relieve my sickness. All of us here share the same sentiments."

Local church leaders in the predominantly Catholic Philippines say prayer and sincere repentance would be quite enough.

Residents say the harsher ritual they choose to enact comes from years of tradition.

SOUNDBITE: SALON OWNER AND DEVOTEE MELVIN PANGILINAN SAYING (Filipino):

"Priests say we shouldn't be doing this but we've grown accustomed to the practice. It's decades old and it does bring benefits."

Some church leaders here seem inclined to agree such practices are unlikely to end - whatever the clergy says.

SOUNDBITE: EMMANUEL METHODIST CHURCH PASTOR CARLITO SANTOS SAYING (Filipino):

"If this was a religious practice it would be easy to prevent. Priests and pastors would just say 'stop' and people would stop doing it. But the reason why it's difficult to stop is because it's culture. It's a tradition."

This year, as in years past and almost certainly to come, the ceremony leaves its participants sore but, in their eyes, sin-free which alone makes the pain a price worth paying.

Paul Chapman, Reuters