Dec 19, 2007 / 08:56 am
An HBO documentary airing this week explores an intense and controversial Catholic youth minister whose impassioned testimonials include drill instructor-like hectoring and simulated crucifixions.
Justin Fatica, a muscular 29-year-old resident of Syracuse, New York, heads the Hard as Nails Ministry he founded in 2002.
His program is now being revealed to the nation in the HBO documentary "Hard as Nails." In the documentary, Fatica is shown being beaten with a steel folding chair as he says "He [Jesus] loves you" to a young man in front of an audience of teenagers. Elsewhere, again before an audience, he loudly berates a young woman: “If you sin, you better have the courage to bash Jesus’ face in!”
Members of Fatica's movement are blindfolded and must carry a large wooden cross while facing insults and mockery from others, apparently in imitation of Christ.