WTF! Self-flagellation by a character in the soap "Passions"

I couldn't believe it! This soap tends to push the envelope, more than other soaps, but it tends to be more amusing and campy.

To make a long story short, this young woman fell in love and had a baby with a young man, who turned out to be her half-brother, which of course nobody knew. She's felt terrible guilt ever since, and decided to run away to a convent in hopes of becoming a cloistered nun. Of course, she still has feelings for the guy, and this makes her think she is a horrible person who needs to be punished for this terrible sin. So the other day, she pulls out this nasty looking black leather cat'o'nine-tails, and starts whipping herself in the back. Then the camera cuts to the bloody marks made by the whip. She did it again the next day.

I'm sorry, but I think that's a prettty weird--and gross--thing to put into this show. It's on in the afternoon, and from what I've heard, a lot of teenagers watch it.

What does everyone else think about this one?

Not all passions are slaked by a little slap-and-tickle.