GORY RITUAL: Catholic Filipinos crucify and whip themselves on Good Friday
Pastor Dale Morgan
GORY RITUAL: Catholic Filipinos crucify and whip themselves on Good Friday*
POSTED: 0702 GMT (1502 HKT), April 6, 2007
CUTUD, Philippines (Reuters) -- More than a dozen Filipinos were nailed
to crosses and scores more whipped their backs into a bloody pulp on
Friday in a gory ritual to mark the death of Jesus Christ.
The voluntary crucifixions in the northern Philippines were the most
extreme displays of religious devotion in this mainly Catholic country,
where millions are praying and fasting ahead of the Easter weekend.
In the small village of Cutud, about 80 km (50 miles) north of Manila,
seven men cried out as nails the size of pencils were driven into their
hands and feet before they were hoisted up in the scorching heat.
Up to 20,000 people watched the spectacle, which has grown from a
village production started in 1962 to a media and tourist attraction
copied in other parts of the country.
The atmosphere was festive, with hawkers selling beer, ice-cream and
souvenir whips. Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven" blared out from
speakers before the penitents approached the crosses.
"I don't like the festivities. It should have been more solemn," said
Pauline, a tourist from Poland, but added: "I believe in the sincerity
of the volunteers, it was very moving."
Local travel agents offered overnight packages for curious visitors and
VIPs watched from a specially elevated "viewing platform".
For hours before the crucifixions, lines of men, hooded and half naked,
flayed their backs with bamboo whips and paddles tipped with broken
glass. Blood splattered over the road.
The country's dominant Catholic Church disapproves of the crucifixions
and flagellations as a misrepresentation of the faith.
But participants, many of whom have been nailed multiple times, say they
do it as a sacrifice for their families.
A priest from Bangladesh said the ritual was a wonderful experience.
"Through this, faith can be solidified. I was very touched by it," said
Father Robert Gonsalves, who is studying in the Philippines.
Some foreigners have previously been crucified including a Belgian nun
and a Japanese man, who later allowed footage of his ordeal to be used
in a pornographic film.
No one has ever died during the rituals.