Texas church bans child's photograph of Passion

DALLAS (AP) -- A 10-year-old Houston boy's staged photograph of a policeman beating a fallen, bleeding child conjures images of police brutality and child abuse.

But photographer Jackson Potts II says the disturbing image has religious symbolism. He says it represents the innocence of Jesus and the officer is like a Roman guard.

Jackson shot the photograph for an exhibit depicting the Stations of the Cross, but the show's organizers rejected it.

They say the photograph could be too scary for small children, especially because the art gallery is also a church sanctuary.

Xnihilo Gallery board member Jeremy Wells says he's disappointed the controversy surrounding the photograph is overshadowing what they wanted to focus on: "the controversial nature of the cross."

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