A nun has been removed from teaching in Slovakia after allegedly stabbing a boy in the hand with a needle to help him empathise with Christ's suffering on the cross.
Sister Ludovita was teaching an RE lesson in Kysucke Nove Mesto, northern Slovakia, when she apparently put a needle in a seven-year-old's hand, the Mirror reports. She later said that the "children had been invited to voluntarily experience mild pain so they could empathise with the theme."
"She said she had invited the pupils to prick themselves if they wanted to but were not forced to," a spokesperson for the school said.
"She denies stabbing the boy and says he did it himself. Either way, this is inappropriate behaviour and will not be tolerated in this school."
A local priest confirmed that Sister Ludovita had been removed teaching and said he would be taking up the matter personally.
The mother of the boy in question said she was shocked by the nun's behaviour. "And with Easter coming I began to worry about what she would do next - crucify one of the students or hammer a nail into their hands?" she said.
