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Subscribe to RSSAP reports: At least 24 Filipinos were nailed to wooden crosses to re-enact Jesus Christ's suffering in a local Good Friday rite rejected by Catholic church leaders but witnessed by throngs of believers and thousands of tourists.
Romeo Ranoco / Reuters
Portraying Jesus Christ, Menandro Penafiel, 34, falls to the ground after being whipped and kicked by Roman soldiers to reenact Christ's persecution and death during Good Friday in Boac town, Marinduque island, central Philippines, on Friday.
Ruben Enaje, a 50-year-old sign painter, screamed in pain as villagers dressed as Roman centurions hammered four-inch, stainless steel nails through his palm and set him aloft on a cross under a brutal sun for a few minutes in San Pedro Cutud village in Pampanga province as thousands watched.
Twenty-three other Filipino men were crucified in the rice-growing province, officials said.
It was Enaje's 25th crucifixion. He says surviving nearly unscathed when he fell from a three-story building in 1985 prompted him to undergo the annual ordeal. Aside from thanking God, Enaje now prays for more painting jobs.
"Not a bone in my body was broken when I fell from that building," Enaje said. "It was a miracle."
"Now, I'm praying for good health and more clients," Enaje told The Associated Press.
Erik de Castro / Reuters
Spectators watch as a penitent is nailed to a cross during the Good Friday lenten crucifixion rites in Cutud at San Fernando city of Pampanga province in northern Philippines on Friday, April 22. Nearly two dozen Filipinos were nailed to crosses to re-enact the passion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, in what they see as an extreme display of devotion which the Roman Catholic church criticizes as a distortion of the Easter message.
Ahead of the crucifixions, throngs of penitents walked several miles (kilometers) through village streets and beat their bare backs with sharp bamboo sticks and pieces of wood, sometimes splashing spectators with blood. Some participants opened cuts in the penitents' backs using broken glass to ensure the ritual was sufficiently bloody.
The gory spectacle reflects the Philippines' unique brand of Catholicism, which merges church traditions with folk superstitions. Many of the mostly impoverished penitents undergo the ritual to atone for sins, pray for the sick or a better life and give thanks for what they believe were God-given miracles.
Erik de Castro / Reuters
Penitent Ruben Enaje grimaces in pain as he is nailed to a cross on Friday.
The most number of crucifixions were staged beside a ricefield in Pampanga's San Pedro Cutud village, where 15 men were nailed to crosses three at a time on a dusty mound as more than 30,000 people, including three European ambassadors, watched and snapped pictures. An ambulance stood by and more than 20 tourists fainted or got dizzy in the heat, officials said.
Amid the festive air — villagers peddled bottled water, food and religious items everywhere — police and marshalls kept order. Some displayed banners with a reminder: "Silence please and take care of your belongings."
Foreigners have been banned from taking part after an Australian comic got crucified under a false name a few years ago near Pampanga. Authorities also suspected that a Japanese man sought to be crucified as part of a porn film in 1996, tourism officer Ching Pangilinan said.
"They made a mockery out of a local tradition," she said.
Erik de Castro / Reuters
Three-inch nails pierce the feet of a penitent crucified during the Good Friday lenten rites in San Juan on Friday.
Church leaders in the Philippines, Asia's largest predominantly Roman Catholic nation, have frowned on the Easter week rituals, saying Filipinos can show their deep faith without hurting themselves.
Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, based in Iloilo Province, said the crucifixions and self-flagellations are an "imperfect imitation with doubtful theological and social significance," adding that only Jesus Christ's death saved mankind.
Pampanga Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said the bloody rites reflected the church's failure to fully educate many Filipinos on Christian tenets.
Enaje and the other penitents said the church should respect their belief.
"When I'm up there on the cross, I feel very close to God," Enaje said. "We grew up with this tradition and nothing can stop us."
Erik de Castro / Reuters
Penitents hang on crosses as they are crucified during Good Friday Lenten rites in Cutud, San Fernando Pampanga in northern Philippines on Friday.
Red Cross officials' concern centered on possible health problems like infection, heat stroke, blood loss and even death from the intense beating. They urged devotees to consider other forms of penance, including donating blood.
San Pedro Cutud village leader Remigio dela Cruz said no major health problem has befallen any penitent since the crucifixions began there in the 1950s. The nails are soaked in alcohol for as long as a year then sprinkled with holy water before use, he said.
Dondi Tawatao / Getty Images
Devout members of the religious sect "25 Mysteries Catholic Lay Missionaries" take part in a panata (or vow) called "Alay Luhod" to mark Holy Week in San Miguel town in Bulacan, Philippines, on Friday.
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Fanatics like this are what the world needs fear.
What an affront to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. These mislead Catholics are attempting to atone for their sins by trying to imitate what Christ has accomplished... and in the very act they show loud and clear that they do not believe that Jesus actually finished the work of atonement for all sin. Awful. Purely satanic, pagan ritual dressed up in a quasi-Christian garb.
"Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow." We are to rest in His sacrifice for our sins - it is sufficient. To add our own works or attempts at atonement is futile and blasphemous to the true work on the cross 2,000 years ago. Happy Resurrection Sunday, world.
They do this just to show devotion. they don't think they are atoning for sins. Catholic know that Christ's one sacrifice, once an d for all time, paid the debt of sin. Catholics know that it is the Blood of Christ that is the price of salvation. You do not know Catholic doctrine. Get a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and educate yourself before you make statements that display your ignorance.
" It was Enaje's 25th crucifixion " - This statement says it all. The alleged "CRUCIFIXION" of Jesus couldn't kill Jesus within that short time, as the events of occurrence are described in bible. Either Jesus didn't die on the CROSS or the descriptions of the events are faulty as there are lots of inconsistencies and unanswered questions. With that much faults & contradictions in Bible it can not be accepted as pure “WORDS OF GOD”. Rather it is a book of history which contains some Words of God, some thoughts of men and continuously being modified by the Christendom over and over again.
The books they call Bible today is totally different than what Jesus actually taught then. Jesus said keep the commandments, but Christians today don’t keep it. Jesus was circumcised on 8th day, but Christians don’t. Jesus never ate PIG, but Christians gobble PIG. Jesus even never hard the name “JESUS” in his lifetime, he was called “ESAU”. Constantine & PAUL(SAUL) had destroyed the real teachings of JESUS.
Actually, Jesus never lived as a man on earth. It's all a myth made up by writers who were born years after Jesus allegedly roamed the earth and co-opted other "sons of god born of a virgin" myths from other cults. The Bible is not an accurate historical account but a collection of fairy tales. Easter itself is a pagan spring ritual and has nothing to do with Christianity. The Christians co-opted that too. And there can't be any "words of God" because God is a creation of man, not the other way around.
This type of persecution has been going on for years in one form or another. So here we sit watching TV and not even getting involved in Easter. You should have watched a program about monasteries on Wednesday on public television. Then go and do likewise. Detach yourself from the world and be in 24 hours of prayer and silence. Isn't that another form of self-humiliation for Christ. By the way, if you don't believe, then don't write.
Easter.... that's the day when all the town officials gather 'round the cave and if Jesus comes out and sees his shadow, there's four more weeks until spring, right?
Being a proud new Atheist, I am amazed how stupid people can be. Remember Douglas Adams,this guy will make you laugh at this sort of blind faith fools.I like to say we are sailing the sea's of truth on the ship of fools.
Everyone is entitled to there own oppinions of coarse but lets see how oppinionated they are come judgement day.
You hit the nail on the head brother!!
Happy Easter oh ye of faith.
Being a man of technical background I found myself constantly torn between intelligent design and natural selection, between God and nature.
Well, I believe it will take a long time, if ever, before we simple creatures will ever find Him in the empirical sense. We will have to do with our faith alone for now and hope that we don't kill ourselves along the way.
Allow me to share a wonderful video that really spark my faith again in the Almighty. This video really poses many questions as to whether intelligent design maybe real after all and that it is the driving force of everything. Some renoun scientists have come out and endorse the Theory of Nothingness, well they just have to look at this amazing video and I am certain they will have to reconsider their thoughts.
Are we living inside God?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74IsySs3RGU
Oaktree - No need to be torn between intelligent design and natural selection. Intelligent design has been debunked. Strongly recommend you read Dawkins' book "The Greatest Show on Earth." It will set you free!
Hasn't it been shown in the past that crucifixion can be survivable? This certainly proves it. If Roman soldiers supposedly gambled for the cloths of crucifixion victims you think they were the best troops that the Roman army had? The soldiers were likely screw ups to get that duty , not the kind that would be above taking bribes to look the other way when guarding a tomb. Remember Paul Harvey's radio show "The rest of the story? This would be a good one for that.
Fixed that for you.
Well you could have at least corrected my spelling as well, urge (huge). :)
I still say it a toss up between Bogota and Bagdad!
Men cannot take the place of Christ on the cross. This is a barbaric practice that has no spiritual value or redeeming qualities other than to dramatize the human suffering of crucifixion. We are to "be transformed by the renewing of our minds" to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We, not being the imbodiment of God, are not able to replicate His "Passion." In those days, many were crucified, but there was and is only one perfect Lamb of God acceptable for sacrifice for the sins of mankind. This is nothing more than needless and unwarranted pagan self mutiilation.
Why do catholics have to convince other people that they are sinners? Isn't this quite pagan itself where fear is being used to keep the masses in control?
They do it to keep more money coming into their pockets. The Pope needs a new Popemobile, and those robes cost a ton each. "Come on you sinners we need more money!"
Thank you for a great laugh at these fools pictures. God they were funny. How stupid and ignorant can you get!
I am not doubting that these people were actually nailed to crosses, but regarding the photo of the feet with 2 nails in them.....WHERE'S THE BLOOD?
Not impressed. I've seen Johnny Knoxville and Steve O take worse.
This is stupid, its actually a mockery to Jesus. Jesus was crucified for man, not for public display and pleasure and making it such a drama entertainment out of it. How stupid are these people and what kinda religion is this? Whats next, a dude will go to split the Red Sea?
I was in The P.I. from 1975 to 1978. we had to live in a guarded compound off base in Angeles City until they could find housing on base for us. I was witness to this event one year. it's quite a site to see.
as a child I knew what they were depicting but didn't really understand why.
I get why they do this now but I also agree with everyone who says they don't think Jesus would condone this. I don't believe this is what he would want either.
watching the depictions of the crucifixion of Jesus on television especially in "The Passion of the Christ" is almost unbearable for me. I could not imagine watching some driveone nails in these guys hands.
To each his own, and whatever brings you closer to God.
Now i can see how Obama won the election, this was not done by christians but against christains beliveing in GOD. This is to remind the people of the sacrifices they dealt with in that era, but you uneducated blind driven faith morons wouldnt have a clue .
All great thinkers from Sir Fig Newton to Leonardo Decaprio agree with you
These 'paint by numbers' interpretations of God's work is
at the root of most religions ills.
Could have the person seen as Jesus after had arisen been a lool like that inspired those to believe in his resurection?
To prove that Jesus was seen after he was cruxified as a look like would validate Jesus' death alot more than allowing a false notion of a look alike or plagarist walking around acting like Jesus.
The act that these men have done is pure sacriledge and is a testament to the brutal nature of what happens to those who voice their opinion's and try to do what is correct by humanity instead of doing what is right by their master's capitilistic whip.
Insanity! As long as there are nut cases like this in the world there really is no hope.
How many of our own beliefs would look like 'nut cases' to other cultures?
Hope springs eternal.
Believers fascinate me in their steadfast clinging to outdated and unneeded beliefs.
I'm always amazed how some of these beliefs become an accepted reality through repetition (however oppressive.).
I submitted myself to a similar punishment (no nails) for over two hours. I had aborted a child without telling my husband and was then horribly ridden with guilt. I asked for this punishment to be done. He carried it out in front of people we knew. You have no idea how painful and humiliating it was to hang naked from a cross in front of familiar spectators. But it did help to cleanse my soul. But I feel to emulate Christ by using nails is blasphemy.
The last time I went to church was the run up to the Iraq war. The people prayed for the president to have wisdom.
After service, several of the members joked about killing Muslims.
To those of you celebrating the mercy of JC, I pray you will have love in your hearts and tolerance for those that are different than you.
Maybe the NSA ordered Apple to do this. Patriot Act and all.
Patriot Act, what an oxymoron.
Holy $hit!